Rayner boasts about masterminding Labour's workers' rights explosion blamed for heaping costs onto struggling firms

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 11:37 EDT, 14 September 2026 | Updated: 11:42 EDT, 14 September 2026 Angela Rayner boasted about bringing in a slew of new rights for workers today – and praised trade unions for their role in helping heap red tape on businesses. The Communities Secretary celebrated the passing of the Employment Rights Act, which came into force in December, as she addressed the Trade Union Congress annual conference in Brighton.The legislation provided for more generous sick pay and paternity leave, with more measures making it harder for firms to sack due to come into effect next year. Union leaders including TUC secretary general Paul Nowak are now pushing Labour to go further with a new wave of changes in favour of workers.Ms Rayner championed the first stages of the law after the 2024 election, until she was forced to quit as deputy prime minister for failing to pay taxes on a holiday home. But she was brought back into government last month when Andy Burnham replaced Sir Keir Starmer in No10. Speaking in a half-empty hall in Brighton this afternoon, Ms Rayner told delegates: 'I promised an Employment Rights Bill within 100 days.'I lost count of how many times I was told that was impossible. But Congress, we did it. The Communities Secretary celebrated the passing of the Employment Rights Act, which came into force in December, as she addressed the Trade Union Congress annual conference Ms Rayner told delegates in Brighton: 'I promised an Employment Rights Bill within 100 days. 'I lost count of how many times I was told that was impossible. But Congress, we did it''And I want to thank all of those in this room that helped craft it, made the case for it, who fought for it so hard, because we beat the odds together.'After applause she went on: 'We created new rights for working people not just individually but importantly, collectively through their trade unions. Not in theory but out there in the real world, on the shop floor and in the workplace.'But Conservative shadow business secretary Julia Lopez said: 'Labour's Unemployment Act is proving a handbrake on hiring and costing business millions. 'It's one of the reasons firms are so nervous to take on young people.'She also hit out at union demands for more, adding: 'Is this what Andy Burnham means when he talks about going back to pre-Thatcher times? 'Because that is what these guys are asking for - a return to the unions running the country.'Ms Rayner went on to attack Reform after it landed £72million in donations from two crypto billionaires at the weekend.The Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary said only Labour was the party of work.'They voted against the Employment Rights Act, and if elected, they'd repeal it in a heartbeat, along with the Equality Act. Think what that means,' she said.'Millions of workers no longer protected from exploitative zero-hours contracts, millions of workers back to waiting three days to be paid when they're sick, millions of workers who could be fired and rehired on worse terms and conditions.'This is about people's lives. Our members' lives, and if you needed proof of whose side they are on, they have given it to us this weekend.'Nigel Farage's sugar daddies made their money in crypto. But there's nothing cryptic about their motives. They know full well that a Reform government will act in their interests, not the public interest.'When these Reform donors say they want nothing, they mean it. No workers' rights, no renters' rights, no social protections, no safety net, no regulation. Nothing to stand in their way.'And if Farage will do you a Cameo for £70, just ask yourself – what would he do for 70 million?'