Peers told they risk constitutional crisis' after surprise vote to continue blocking employment rights bill UK politics live

"Alison McGovern, the homelessness minister, has pledged to end the use of bed and breakfasts as emergency housing, even as new figures show that the country's homelessness problem has worsened since Labour came into government. McGovern was speaking to the Guardian to promote the homelessness strategy being announced today. Kiran Stacey and Jessica Murray have the story. Share Good morning. Yesterday Keir Starmer announced the creation of 25 Labour new peers. About an hour or so later, the government lost an important vote on the employment rights bill by 24 votes."

"Flagship workers' rights 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 a job destroyer. The latest setback means a continuation of the parliamentary tussle over the employment rights bill known as ping-pong, when legislation is batted between the Commons and Lords until agreement is reached. 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."

"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' pay or 118,223. The government insists this formed part of the compromise agreement reached with business groups and trade unions although this is disputed. With the clock ticking down to the Christmas recess, peers backed by 244 votes to 220, majority 24, a Tory call to force"

Alison McGovern pledged to end the use of bed and breakfasts for emergency housing while new figures show homelessness has worsened since Labour assumed power. McGovern promoted a homelessness strategy announced today. Keir Starmer created 25 new Labour peers, and the government then lost a key employment rights bill vote by 24 votes. The government withdrew a day-one unfair dismissal protection pledge and accepted a six-month qualifying period, while inserting a last-minute plan to remove unfair dismissal compensation caps. Peers voted 244 to 220, continuing the Commons–Lords ping-pong over the bill ahead of the Christmas recess.

Read at www.theguardian.com