{"id":2620,"date":"2025-12-11T09:26:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T09:26:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=2620"},"modified":"2025-12-11T09:26:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T09:26:16","slug":"peers-told-they-risk-constitutional-crisis-after-surprise-vote-to-continue-blocking-employment-rights-bill-uk-politics-live-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=2620","title":{"rendered":"Peers told they risk \u2018constitutional crisis\u2019 after surprise vote to continue blocking employment rights bill \u2013 UK politics live | Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"block-693a88748f08f437968be3d7\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Homelessness minister promises to end use of B&amp;Bs as emergency housing<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Alison McGovern<\/strong>, the homelessness minister, has pledged to end the use of bed and breakfasts as emergency housing, even as new figures show that the country\u2019s homelessness problem has worsened since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/labour\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Labour<\/a> came into government. McGovern was speaking to the Guardian to promote the homelessness strategy being announced today. <strong>Kiran Stacey and Jessica Murray<\/strong> have the story.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"b9d8198d-a7f6-4b8d-ab2f-57c2ecb7577f\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:1,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Homelessness minister promises to end use of B&amp;Bs as emergency housing&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;b9d8198d-a7f6-4b8d-ab2f-57c2ecb7577f&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/society\/2025\/dec\/10\/homelessness-minister-promises-to-end-use-of-bbs-as-emergency-housing&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2025\/dec\/11\/uk-politics-latest-news-updates-labour-conservatives-house-of-lords&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-693a88748f08f437968be3d7&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-693a88748f08f437968be3d7&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Peers told they risk \u2018constitutional crisis\u2019 after surprise vote to continue blocking employment rights bill \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Peers told they risk \u2018constitutional crisis\u2019 after surprise vote to continue blocking employment rights bill \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/dec\/11\/uk-politics-latest-news-updates-labour-conservatives-house-of-lords?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-693a88748f08f437968be3d7#block-693a88748f08f437968be3d7\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-693a79348f08b47a6373e63b\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Peers told they risk \u2018constitutional crisis\u2019 after surprise vote to continue blocking employment rights bill<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Good morning. Yesterday Keir Starmer announced the creation of 25 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/labour\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Labour<\/a> new peers. About an hour or so later, the government lost an important vote on the employment rights bill \u2013 by 24 votes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The defeat was unexpected, because the government because already announced a significant U-turn on the bill, as part a compromise deal negotiated with business and unions intended to ensure the legislation clears the Lords quickly. What is going to happen next is not yet clear.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Here is the PA Media story on the Lords vote.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>Flagship workers\u2019 <em>rights<\/em> reforms face a further holdup as peers inflicted a defeat over a late change linked to the government concession on unfair dismissal that has been branded \u201ca job destroyer\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The latest setback means a continuation of the parliamentary tussle over the <em>employment<\/em> <em>rights<\/em> <em>bill<\/em> known as \u201cping-pong\u201d, when legislation is batted between the Commons and Lords until agreement is reached.<\/p>\n<p>In an attempt to end the stand-off, the government recently ditched its election pledge to give employees day-one protection against unfair dismissal and instead accepted a six-month qualifying period for the workplace safeguard, demanded by the upper chamber.<\/p>\n<p>However, alongside this it introduced at the 11th hour a measure to scrap the compensation caps for unfair dismissal, which are currently the lower of 52 weeks\u2019 pay or \u00a3118,223.<\/p>\n<p>The government insists this formed part of the compromise agreement reached with business groups and trade unions although this is disputed.<\/p>\n<p>With the clock ticking down to the Christmas recess, peers backed by 244 votes to 220, majority 24, a Tory call to force a review of the existing compensation limits, which ministers are seeking to remove.<\/p>\n<p>The fresh defeat has sparked an angry response from the unions, with unelected members accused of \u201cdefying the will of the British public\u201d and told to \u201cmove out the way\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>But speaking in the Lords, Tory shadow business minister <strong class=\"dcr-in3yi3\">Lord Sharpe of Epsom<\/strong> said: \u201cThe constitutional implications of introducing major new policy at ping-pong are profound.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cThis is not obstruction. It is the bare minimum that a competent administration should undertake.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Speaking after the vote, Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the <strong>TUC<\/strong>, said:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>Continuing to vote down the employment rights bill \u2013 a clear manifesto commitment \u2013 is undemocratic. This bill has been debated and scrutinised for months. Tory Peers are actively defying the will of the British public and their own supporters who overwhelmingly support measures in this bill.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Mike Clancy, general secretary of the <strong>Prospect<\/strong> union, went further. He said:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>The behaviour of the House of Lords can no longer be seen as constructive scrutiny and increasingly looks like cynical wrecking tactics that risk a constitutional crisis if they continue.<\/p>\n<p>Further delay is in nobody\u2019s interests and only prolongs uncertainty, the bill must pass before Christmas including lifting the caps on compensation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Lords vote came as Starmer was also facing criticism over the fact that he has now appointed almost 100 new peers to the Lords, an institution <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2022\/nov\/19\/keir-starmer-i-will-abolish-house-of-lords-to-restore-trust-in-politics\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">he once suggested he would abolish.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Here is the agenda for the day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>9.30am:<\/em> NHS England publishes its monthly performance figures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>Morning:<\/em> Keir Starmer is on a visit in Norfolk promoting government policy on buses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>11.30am:<\/em> Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>2pm:<\/em> Starmer holds a further video call with \u2018coalition of the willing\u2019 leaders, after a call yesterday with Donald Trump involved \u201cpretty strong words\u201d,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/dec\/10\/coalition-willing-nations-war-ukraine-keir-starmer-emmanuel-macron\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> according to the president.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can\u2019t read all the messages BTL, but if you put \u201cAndrew\u201d in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/media\/2024\/nov\/13\/the-guardian-no-longer-post-on-x-twitter-elon-musk\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">given up posting from its official accounts on X<\/a>, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can\u2019t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;politics\/live\/2025\/dec\/11\/uk-politics-latest-news-updates-labour-conservatives-house-of-lords&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-693a79348f08b47a6373e63b&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-693a79348f08b47a6373e63b&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Peers told they risk \u2018constitutional crisis\u2019 after surprise vote to continue blocking employment rights bill \u2013 UK politics live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Peers told they risk \u2018constitutional crisis\u2019 after surprise vote to continue blocking employment rights bill \u2013 UK politics live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/live\/2025\/dec\/11\/uk-politics-latest-news-updates-labour-conservatives-house-of-lords?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-693a79348f08b47a6373e63b#block-693a79348f08b47a6373e63b\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2025-12-11T09:05:41.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Thursday, 11 December 2025 at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time\">09.05 GMT<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<p>#Peers #told #risk #constitutional #crisis #surprise #vote #continue #blocking #employment #rights #bill #politics #live #Politics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Homelessness minister promises&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2621,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2620"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2620"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2620\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}