Employment Rights Bill

Jerome Mayhew Excerpts

Consideration of Lords message
Monday 15th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Jerome Mayhew (Broadland and Fakenham) (Con)]

We are short on time, so I will limit myself to two points.

I will start with what my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (David Simmonds) admirably described as the “craven capitulation” of the Liberal Democrats. Just a week ago, the Liberal Democrats were arguing passionately about unions’ abilities to cause strikes, and about the right to guaranteed hours. Then what happened? Five peerages came along. Now they are in favour of those things. It used to be the case with their last Prime Minister, Lloyd George, who famously used to sell peerages for money. Now it seems that the Liberal Democrats sell their principles for peerages.

[Sarah Olney]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I think that is disgraceful. The hon. Gentleman is literally implying corruption. I made it very clear in my speech what the basis of our change in support in the Lords was for, and I think it is intolerable that we are being accused.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)]

I thank the hon. Member for her advice. As it happens, she makes a good point. The hon. Member for Broadland and Fakenham (Jerome Mayhew) should not be suggesting any particular motive attributed to that issue, and could he perhaps confine his remaining comments for the next 90 seconds?

[Jerome Mayhew]

I am grateful for that direction, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Let us move to Lords amendment 120N. This is a major new policy. We do not have to argue about whether a £118,000 cap is a good or bad idea. I think the cap is a good idea, but the amendment seeks to clarify the process by which the Government have decided to impose this measure in the Bill. It was not part of the manifesto. It was not part of the Bill or discussed in the Bill Committee. It has just been inserted at the last moment in ping-pong. There has been no risk assessment, no impact assessment, and no consultation. The amendment does not put the Government off course. All it asks the Government to do is, within three months of Royal Assent,

“conduct a review of the limit imposed by this section on the amount of the compensation awarded”.

That consultation only has to consult employers’ organisations, trade unions—one would think Labour Members would be in favour of that—and

“organisations representing employment law practitioners, and such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.”

If the Government choose to implement policy on the hoof, the least they can do is undertake a consultation that they should have carried out—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)]

Order. I call the Minister.