Starmer attacks Greens, saying vote for Labour rivals puts new workers’ rights at risk

In a sign of how he views the threat from the populism of the Greens and Reform UK, Starmer said that only Labour had ‘a serious, credible economic strategy’. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Keir Starmer has used a series of new workers rights that come into force on Monday to attack the Green party, saying a vote for Labour’s rivals puts such progress on sick pay, parental leave and zero-hours contracts at risk.

The prime minister also took a swipe at business figures and opponents of what he described as the biggest strengthening of workers’ rights in a generation, dismissing “vested interests” who had warned against them.