You claim that “out-of-touch” hereditary peers in the House of Lords are blocking Angela Rayner’s controversial employment bill, which is spreading fear and anxiety throughout British business and choking the job prospects of young people in particular (‘Out of touch’ hereditary peers criticised for voting against workers’ rights, 18 November).
Yet who really is out of touch with the realities of the job market? Cabinet members – none of whom has had a serious job in business? Or those you deride, many of whom have vast experience in setting up and running businesses, large and small. Unemployment has hit 5%, 1.7 million people are now on unemployment benefits, and the government’s own analysis has shown this bill will cost businesses £5,000m a year.
The Lords’ stand is backed by the Federation of Small Businesses, the CBI, the Institute of Directors, Make UK, Care England and many more, including that old Guardian pin-up, Sir Tony Blair. The government would have suffered stonking defeats if not a single hereditary peer had participated. Conservative, Liberal Democrat, crossbench, Unionist and non-affiliated peers joined forces to amend the employment bill. The government would have lost by some 100 votes and more even if not a single hereditary peer had voted.
It is a red herring to hide the fact that fewer than two-thirds of Labour peers turned out to support this damaging bill.
Nicholas True
Leader of the opposition, House of Lords
