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Keir Starmer is facing internal dissent after ministers dropped proposals to give workers immediate safeguards against unfair dismissal, a reversal violating the party's election pledges.

Lawmakers Express Worries

MPs including an ex-government official who headed the labor reform proposal expressed apprehension over the climbdown announced by the government.

Cabinet members have removed the plan to remove the 24-month "qualifying period" for workers to file wrongful termination cases and enable them to proceed starting immediately in a new job, to facilitate passing the legislation through parliament.

Parliamentary Standoff

The legislation became trapped in a confrontation among the House of Lords and Commons over the original plan to give workers the protection from the start, including proposals to outlaw predatory flexible hour arrangements.

Ministers currently plan to introduce the right over unfair dismissal after six months of service instead, whereas other immediate protections to fatherhood time off and health-related payments continue planned to go ahead, taking effect in the second quarter of 2026.

Resistance and Disapproval

The Labour MP for the Teesside area described the move as a "complete betrayal" and vowed to push for its cancellation.

"We must oppose that halfway measure."

"This represents misguided policy and I plan to fight to have this concession reversed."

A different party representative shared concern about the lack of consultation, observing: "There has been absence of dialogue with the PLP. Peers shouldn't override regarding election promises, hence what prompted our让步?"

Wider Consequences

Another representative stated: "Businesses should not worry from day-one rights, but workers have everything to fear from an employer who resists first-day entitlements."

The former employment minister confirmed that the decision "clearly represents a broken promise."

Ministerial Explanation

The education secretary explained remained a "substantial likelihood" the enactment of the labor reform proposal would have been delayed if the government had not made a U-turn over immediate safeguards against wrongful termination.

"Consultation has occurred on the point around unjust firing and the qualifying timeframe with employers, the TUC and the administration, and subsequent to that dialogue there's been agreement regarding the path ahead, which is welcome."

She emphasized that "Consequently the qualifying period will decrease from 730 days to 180 days, and this occurs simultaneously with crucial immediate protections around sick pay and around parental leave."

"However the danger present that if we didn't make progress, those significant entitlements wouldn't come into force starting spring 2026."

Upon being asked regarding if it constituted an unfulfilled pledge, the official replied: "In the manifesto, what we said was that we planned to cooperate with worker representatives, with business, with community groups, in consulting on those protections we planned to introduce."

"So, there are both parts regarding that matter, in the election platform, the significant entitlements and the consultation."