Reform UK admits plan to scrap Labour’s employment rights
So much for caring about working people. Reform UK are set to confirm today what many of us have expected for a while, that they don’t give a toss about working people and want to erode their rights.
Deputy leader Richard Tice will today unveil the policy in a major speech setting out the party’s approach to growing the economy.
Tice will pledge to bring in a Great Repeal Bill to scrap new employment rights rules introduced by Labour, as well as pledging to get rid of the government’s pledge to achieve Net Zero by 2050 and improved rights for renters.
Labour chair Anna Turley said: “Reform have formally declared war on British workers. Nigel Farage and his cronies want to rip up hard-won workers’ rights on parental leave, sick pay, and would cut up to a million clean energy jobs in the process.”
The Employment Rights Bill introduced by the Labour government gives workers day one rights, bans zero hour contracts, and makes it easier for workers to campaign for better pay and conditions.
If Reform really cared about working people, they wouldn’t be repealing it. Then again, millionaire Nigel Farage doesn’t care about working people.
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
24 February, 2026
Left Foot Forward
'Reform have formally declared war on British workers.'
Left Foot Forward
'Reform have formally declared war on British workers.'
So much for caring about working people. Reform UK are set to confirm today what many of us have expected for a while, that they don’t give a toss about working people and want to erode their rights.
Deputy leader Richard Tice will today unveil the policy in a major speech setting out the party’s approach to growing the economy.
Tice will pledge to bring in a Great Repeal Bill to scrap new employment rights rules introduced by Labour, as well as pledging to get rid of the government’s pledge to achieve Net Zero by 2050 and improved rights for renters.
Labour chair Anna Turley said: “Reform have formally declared war on British workers. Nigel Farage and his cronies want to rip up hard-won workers’ rights on parental leave, sick pay, and would cut up to a million clean energy jobs in the process.”
The Employment Rights Bill introduced by the Labour government gives workers day one rights, bans zero hour contracts, and makes it easier for workers to campaign for better pay and conditions.
If Reform really cared about working people, they wouldn’t be repealing it. Then again, millionaire Nigel Farage doesn’t care about working people.
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
Unison slams Reform UK for ‘disastrous plans’ to scrap employment rights
24 February, 2026
Left Foot Forward
“The millionaires calling the shots in Reform don’t think those putting in a hard day’s graft deserve basic rights or fair pay."
Left Foot Forward
“The millionaires calling the shots in Reform don’t think those putting in a hard day’s graft deserve basic rights or fair pay."
Unison, which is one of the country’s largest trade unions, has slammed Reform UK and said Nigel Farage’s party is no friend of working people, after the party pledged to scrap employment rights if elected to office.
Deputy leader Richard Tice will today unveil the plans in a major speech setting out the party’s approach to growing the economy.
Tice will pledge to bring in a Great Repeal Bill to scrap new employment rights rules introduced by Labour, as well as pledging to get rid of the government’s pledge to achieve Net Zero by 2050 and improved rights for renters.
Labour chair Anna Turley said: “Reform have formally declared war on British workers. Nigel Farage and his cronies want to rip up hard-won workers’ rights on parental leave, sick pay, and would cut up to a million clean energy jobs in the process.”
The Employment Rights Bill introduced by the Labour government gives workers day one rights, bans zero hour contracts, and makes it easier for workers to campaign for better pay and conditions.
Commenting on Reform’s proposals, UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan said: “The mask’s off. Reform UK has shown what it really thinks of working people.
“The millionaires calling the shots in Reform don’t think those putting in a hard day’s graft deserve basic rights or fair pay.
“The party’s out-of-touch MPs have consistently voted against every measure to improve fairness and rights at work.
“But these new changes are popular with the public and could improve the lives of millions. Scrapping them would be a huge mistake.”
Reform also plans to introduce inferior pensions for council staff.
“Attacking the pensions of council staff is a disastrous move. Employees would be denied a secure retirement income and it would worsen the recruitment crisis in local government”, said Egan.
“Whether it’s targeting low-paid staff or demonising anyone from overseas, Reform has little interest in helping workers or strengthening public services.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
Matt Goodwin said that Reform wants to put unions ‘under review’
23 February, 2026
Left Foot Forward
"Reform UK can talk all it likes about being the "voice of workers", but putting public sector unions “under review” tells you exactly who they are."
Reform’s Gorton and Denton by-election candidate has said that the party would put public sector unions “under review” if it came to power.
Matt Goodwin made the comments in a speech in early December, just before the by-election was called.
As reported by the Financial Times, Goodwin said “[Reform] will place public sector trade unions under review”.
The Reform candidate made the comments in a speech at the “Battle for the Soul of Europe” conference organised by Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), a private college and think tank linked to the Hungarian far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán.
The event took place in Brussels on 3–4 December last year.
Former Tory MP Danny Kruger, who was previously in charge of developing Reform’s radical proposals for government reform, said there “will need to be a programme of change around civil service unions”.
“It will not be acceptable for unions . . . to invoke their own independent political judgment to frustrate what ministers are requiring,” he said, but did not elaborate on what this meant.
GMB Union London reacted to Goodwin’s comments, saying: “Reform have spent months acting like they’re on workers’ side.
“Now they’re talking about putting trade unions “under review”. You can’t pose for photos with union members one minute and threaten their rights the next.
“Workers aren’t stupid, we see what this is.”
Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, wrote on X: “The mask slips.
“Reform UK can talk all it likes about being the “voice of workers”, but putting public sector unions “under review” tells you exactly who they are.
“That means attacking the organisations that defend pay, safety and conditions. And they’re open about going after public sector pensions too.
“Firefighters and other public servants won’t be fooled.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
Left Foot Forward
"Reform UK can talk all it likes about being the "voice of workers", but putting public sector unions “under review” tells you exactly who they are."
Reform’s Gorton and Denton by-election candidate has said that the party would put public sector unions “under review” if it came to power.
Matt Goodwin made the comments in a speech in early December, just before the by-election was called.
As reported by the Financial Times, Goodwin said “[Reform] will place public sector trade unions under review”.
The Reform candidate made the comments in a speech at the “Battle for the Soul of Europe” conference organised by Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), a private college and think tank linked to the Hungarian far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán.
The event took place in Brussels on 3–4 December last year.
Former Tory MP Danny Kruger, who was previously in charge of developing Reform’s radical proposals for government reform, said there “will need to be a programme of change around civil service unions”.
“It will not be acceptable for unions . . . to invoke their own independent political judgment to frustrate what ministers are requiring,” he said, but did not elaborate on what this meant.
GMB Union London reacted to Goodwin’s comments, saying: “Reform have spent months acting like they’re on workers’ side.
“Now they’re talking about putting trade unions “under review”. You can’t pose for photos with union members one minute and threaten their rights the next.
“Workers aren’t stupid, we see what this is.”
Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, wrote on X: “The mask slips.
“Reform UK can talk all it likes about being the “voice of workers”, but putting public sector unions “under review” tells you exactly who they are.
“That means attacking the organisations that defend pay, safety and conditions. And they’re open about going after public sector pensions too.
“Firefighters and other public servants won’t be fooled.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
Reform UK slammed over plan to scrap the Renters’ Rights Act
Reform UK is set to pledge that it will scrap the Renters’ Rights Act if the party wins power.
Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice is expected to claim scrapping the legislation will “boost the economy” by lowering inflation and creating jobs. It is unclear how weakening renters’ rights would benefit the economy.
The Act, which passed into law last October and will begin to come into effect this May, gives renters essential protections, including banning no-fault evictions.
It will also ban bidding wars, by requiring landlords to request an asking price and not accept offers above that.
Generation Rent has called the legislation “the largest set of changes affecting private rented homes since 1988”.
The law faced significant backlash from landlords. Tice, who has said he wants to scrap the “daft regulations”, has a multi-million pound property portfolio and a stake in multiple property development companies.
Danny Kruger MP, who recently defected to Reform, also owns a London rental property and earns over £10,000 a year from it with his wife.
Ben Twomey, Chief Executive of Generation Rent, which campaigns on private renters’ rights said: “Reform UK had nothing to say at the debates about the Renters’ Rights Bill when it was passing through Parliament.
“They also haven’t spoken to renter groups like us about their plans, which would be a gift to unscrupulous landlords who are responsible for the poor conditions renters face right now.
“Renters have fought for decades for laws that give people greater security in their jobs and homes. The public widely supports the new laws to protect us, so we urge Reform UK to show renters more respect and think again about what they are offering voters.”
Clara Collingwood, director at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, has pointed out that over 70% of the public support an end to section 21 evictions.
Collingwood said: “Scrapping the basic protections in this Act would be a huge setback for millions of renters, driving up homelessness and making life harder particularly for those on lower incomes – Reform should think again.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
24 February, 2026
Left Foot Forward
Reform’s plans would be "a gift to unscrupulous landlords"
Left Foot Forward
Reform’s plans would be "a gift to unscrupulous landlords"
Reform UK is set to pledge that it will scrap the Renters’ Rights Act if the party wins power.
Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice is expected to claim scrapping the legislation will “boost the economy” by lowering inflation and creating jobs. It is unclear how weakening renters’ rights would benefit the economy.
The Act, which passed into law last October and will begin to come into effect this May, gives renters essential protections, including banning no-fault evictions.
It will also ban bidding wars, by requiring landlords to request an asking price and not accept offers above that.
Generation Rent has called the legislation “the largest set of changes affecting private rented homes since 1988”.
The law faced significant backlash from landlords. Tice, who has said he wants to scrap the “daft regulations”, has a multi-million pound property portfolio and a stake in multiple property development companies.
Danny Kruger MP, who recently defected to Reform, also owns a London rental property and earns over £10,000 a year from it with his wife.
Ben Twomey, Chief Executive of Generation Rent, which campaigns on private renters’ rights said: “Reform UK had nothing to say at the debates about the Renters’ Rights Bill when it was passing through Parliament.
“They also haven’t spoken to renter groups like us about their plans, which would be a gift to unscrupulous landlords who are responsible for the poor conditions renters face right now.
“Renters have fought for decades for laws that give people greater security in their jobs and homes. The public widely supports the new laws to protect us, so we urge Reform UK to show renters more respect and think again about what they are offering voters.”
Clara Collingwood, director at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, has pointed out that over 70% of the public support an end to section 21 evictions.
Collingwood said: “Scrapping the basic protections in this Act would be a huge setback for millions of renters, driving up homelessness and making life harder particularly for those on lower incomes – Reform should think again.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
Keir Starmer slams Reform’s plans to scrap Equalities Act as anti-British and shocking
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has slammed Reform’s plans to axe the Equalities Act as “shocking” and anti-British.
It comes after Suella Braverman, who recently defected to Reform and is the party’s new education, skills and equalities spokeswoman, said that Britain is being ‘ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion’. The Equality Act is a key piece of legislation that prevents against discrimination in Britain.
The Equality Act 2010 is a UK law that legally protects people from discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in the workplace and wider society.
The act prevents discrimination against those with protected characteristics, including: age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Braverman described protected characteristics as being “pernicious” and “divisive” and pledged to repeal the act on the first day of a Reform government.
The Prime Minister slammed the plans as “shocking” and un-British, warning legislation that has provided decades of protection for women would be ripped up.
During an appearance on BBC Breakfast, the Prime Minister said: “This is decades of protection, it goes to basic values, one of which is should women be treated as equal as men. That is core. That is British. That is something that was fought for and for Reform to say no more, under them we are to go back to old days when women not treated equally … I shudder to think what women think of anyone who wants to rip up that proposition.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
19 February, 2026
Left Foot Forward
'This is decades of protection, it goes to basic values, one of which is should women be treated as equal as men'
Left Foot Forward
'This is decades of protection, it goes to basic values, one of which is should women be treated as equal as men'
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has slammed Reform’s plans to axe the Equalities Act as “shocking” and anti-British.
It comes after Suella Braverman, who recently defected to Reform and is the party’s new education, skills and equalities spokeswoman, said that Britain is being ‘ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion’. The Equality Act is a key piece of legislation that prevents against discrimination in Britain.
The Equality Act 2010 is a UK law that legally protects people from discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in the workplace and wider society.
The act prevents discrimination against those with protected characteristics, including: age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Braverman described protected characteristics as being “pernicious” and “divisive” and pledged to repeal the act on the first day of a Reform government.
The Prime Minister slammed the plans as “shocking” and un-British, warning legislation that has provided decades of protection for women would be ripped up.
During an appearance on BBC Breakfast, the Prime Minister said: “This is decades of protection, it goes to basic values, one of which is should women be treated as equal as men. That is core. That is British. That is something that was fought for and for Reform to say no more, under them we are to go back to old days when women not treated equally … I shudder to think what women think of anyone who wants to rip up that proposition.”
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
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