British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a visit to McLaren Automotive in Surrey, England, Monday Dec. 8, 2025. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)

A Labour MP has accused his own party of a “clear betrayal of a manifesto promise” for watering down the government’s flagship workers’ rights bill.

John McDonnell blasted the “shameful” move as MPs debated the legislation in the Commons.

It emerged last month that plans to give employees protection against unfair dismissal from their first day in a job had been ditched by Keir Starmer after objections were raised by employers.

That was despite Labour’s election manifesto last year promising “basic rights from day one to parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal”.

The........

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