Richard Tice echoes Donald Trump with pledge of ‘great repeal act’ and ‘tight quotas and significant tariffs’
Unions and renters’ groups have criticised Reform UK after the party’s business spokesperson, Richard Tice, pledged to introduce a “great repeal act” that would abolish Labour legislation on workers’ rights and protection for tenants.
In his first speech since being appointed by Nigel Farage to a portfolio covering business, trade and energy, Tice promised a bonfire of regulations, including an end to net zero targets and a new push for home-produced shale gas using fracking.
Hitting out at what he called “daft” regulations, Tice said a Reform government would repeal the Employment Rights Act and the Renters’ Rights Act, two of the flagship pieces of legislation passed by Keir Starmer’s government.
“We will repeal things that are unnecessary or against the strategic national interest,” he told an event in Birmingham, saying some of this involved “well-intentioned legislation that is having exactly the opposite effect”.
The Employment Rights Act, passed in December, offers significant new rights connected to sick pay, parental leave and zero-hours contracts, including rights to guaranteed hours and payment for short-notice cancellation of shifts, and a ban on most fire-and-rehire practices.
Tice said the act was “destroying jobs for young people”, blaming it for an increase in youth unemployment.
He also said Reform would also repeal the Renters’ Rights Act,...
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