Labour’s ‘new deal’ for working people explained
Party promising to overhaul welfare, increase job security and boost training
A Labour government would change the universal credit system to let low-income workers earn more without their welfare payments being cut, the party has pledged.
Outlining the proposed shake-up, shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds promised to “make work pay” as part of a wider strategy to create “jobs you can raise a family on”.
In a tweet prior to the announcement yesterday, Reynolds said that “to tackle the endemic levels of in-work poverty in the UK, we need a new deal for working people”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The pledge is “the first element of what is expected to be a significant overhaul” of the work and social security system, said The Guardian. Labour is planning to reduce the taper rate for universal credit - claimed by almost six million people - under which for every £1 earned over the work allowance, payment is currently reduced by 63p.
The party will specify the scale of the proposed reduction “as part of its wider tax and spending plans”, the paper reported, but “the cost could be substantial, with some estimates suggesting that every percentage point reduction in the taper rate would cost £350m”.
Here are the five main areas covered by Labour’s “new deal for working people”, which was first announced in July.
Job security
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
According to Labour’s website, 3.6m people in the UK “are in insecure work” that “means they can’t plan for the future”. The party has pledged to give workers “full protections from day one on the job” and to “strengthen trade unions”, and to “ban fire and rehire and give people the right to work flexibly”.
British business boost
In a move aimed at helping the “one in six working families living in poverty”, Labour would “support British businesses so we buy, make and sell more in Britain”. “This would help to create well-paid, green jobs in the industries of the future,” said the party.
Fairer economy
Some “big, global businesses, like Amazon”, don’t pay their fair share of taxes, with the result that “our British businesses are being undercut and losing out”, said Labour’s online summary of the new deal. The party would “level the playing field and give our businesses the boost they need to create good jobs locally”.
Training opportunities
Under the plans, Labour would also “deliver a jobs-promise for young people with a guarantee of quality education, training or employment”.
Living wage
The party is pledging to introduce a “real living wage of at least £10 an hour”, along with universal sick pay, increased protection against unfair dismissal, and the right to flexible working for all.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 19, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - priority delivery, USPS on fire, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's biggest political donors
The Explainer With the 2024 general election set to be the highest-spending contest ever we look at who is giving to which party and why
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What will £28bn green investment U-turn cost Labour?
Today's Big Question Dropping flagship pledge 'will confirm workers' scepticism of the endless promises of jam tomorrow', said union leader
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How many seats do Labour and the Tories need to win?
In depth Changes to constituency boundaries mean Labour needs even bigger swing at next election to form a majority
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published