Employment rights bill will cost firms £5bn per year but benefits will justify costs, government says – as it happened

The employment rights bill will ‘strengthen working conditions for the lowest paid and most vulnerable’ says government analysis. Photograph: Geoffrey Robinson/Alamy

5.41pm BST

Afternoon summary

• Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister and housing secretary, has said the employment rights bill will be good for growth. Speaking during the opening of its second reading debate, she said an impact assessment published by the government today (see 3.48pm) made it clear the bill would have “a positive impact on growth and more than 10 million workers will benefit from Labour’s plan in every corner of this country”. She went on:

And the money in their pockets will go back into the economy and will support businesses, in particular, those on the high street.

But many Tory MPs pointed out that the official analysis said the impact of the bill on growth was uncertain, and that even if there was a positive effect, it would be small. (See 4.41pm.) They also highlighted figures saying the cost to business could be close to £5bn a year.

• Some NHS patients have received a “death sentence” due to delays within the health service, Wes Streeting has said, as Keir Starmer stressed the need for more use of AI and technology.

• Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting have launched a consultation on the future of the NHS. (See 9.13am.) In a post on social media, Streeting joked about some of the less serious responses already submitted.

Thanks to @JackElsom for sending this idea for Wetherspoons in every hospital.

Great idea, but sadly vetoed by the Chancellor during Budget negotiations.

Thanks also to the person who suggested I be fired out of a cannon to raise money for the NHS. No.https://t.co/KErAXPrURG pic.twitter.com/wXav0TFv08

— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) October 21, 2024

Thanks to @JackElsom for sending this idea for Wetherspoons in every hospital.

Great idea, but sadly vetoed by the Chancellor during Budget negotiations.

Thanks also to the person who suggested I be fired out of a cannon to raise money for the NHS. No

• Downing Street has said that Keir Starmer will not be offering reparations or an apology for Britain’s role in slavery at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting this week. (See 12.56pm.)

• The Serious Fraud Office is investigating the construction of a hotel and conference centre owned by the Unite union, the BBC is reporting.

Updated at 5.43pm BST

5.40pm BST

A Sinn Féin spokesperson has said that a party employee has resigned due to involvement in an incident where a DUP portrait was damaged at Belfast City Hall, PA Media reports. PA says:

An investigation was launched after the official portrait of former DUP lord mayor Lord Browne of Belfast was damaged during an event at the weekend.

A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “Today, 21 October, a Sinn Féin employee, who works in the Assembly, made the party chief whip aware of their involvement in an incident regarding a portrait in Belfast City Hall which took place on Saturday 19th October.

“The employee was immediately suspended, and we have notified the PSNI today.

“The employee has now resigned from their employment and their party membership.”

Updated at 5.44pm BST