Reform UK has drawn sharp criticism from unions and housing advocacy groups after the party’s business spokesperson Richard Tice announced plans for a sweeping “great repeal act” targeting Labour’s recent workers’ rights and renters’ protection legislation. In his first major speech since Nigel Farage appointed him to oversee business, trade and energy, Tice outlined proposals to dismantle key protections introduced by Keir Starmer’s government.
Speaking at an event in Birmingham, Tice pledged that a Reform government would abolish both the Employment Rights Act and the Renters’ Rights Act, describing them as “daft” regulations working against the national interest. The announcement also included commitments to end net zero targets and promote shale gas extraction through fracking as part of a broader deregulation agenda.
Workers’ Rights Act Faces Abolition Threat
The Employment Rights Act, which became law in December, introduced substantial workplace protections including enhanced sick pay, expanded parental leave provisions, and new safeguards for workers on zero-hours contracts. The legislation guarantees workers minimum hours and compensation for last-minute shift cancellations while banning most fire-and-rehire practices.
However, Tice argued the workers’ rights act was “destroying jobs for young people” and blamed the legislation for rising youth unemployment. He characterized the reforms as “well-intentioned legislation that is having exactly the opposite effect,” though he did not provide specific employment data to support his claims.
Renters’ Protections Also Targeted
The Reform spokesperson similarly criticized the Renters’ Rights Act, claiming it has reduced available rental properties and increased rents. This legislation eliminated “no fault evictions,” replaced fixed-term tenancies with open-ended agreements, and strengthened landlord responsibilities regarding health hazards.
According to Tice, the law has made landlords view renting as “too risky” because they cannot easily remove tenants. “There’s a balance of risk and reward, and too many landlords have said, enough is enough,” he stated during his Birmingham address.
Housing and Labor Groups Condemn Proposals
Sarah Elliott, chief executive of homeless charity Shelter, sharply rebuked the proposals, questioning how any party could claim to support working families while attempting to dismantle their protections. “Scrapping these vital reforms will do nothing but condemn thousands to the hellish conditions they have endured for decades, while giving unscrupulous landlords free rein to turf renters out of their homes for no good reason,” Elliott said.
Meanwhile, Clara Collingwood from the Renters’ Reform Coalition warned that eliminating these protections would drive up homelessness and disproportionately harm lower-income renters. Andrea Egan, general secretary of the Unison union, noted that Reform MPs have consistently opposed workplace fairness measures and that scrapping popular reforms affecting millions would be “a huge mistake.”
Energy and Trade Policy Shifts Proposed
Additionally, Tice’s speech outlined energy policy changes including renewed North Sea oil drilling and domestic shale gas production. He framed energy extraction in patriotic terms, suggesting “Lincolnshire gas for Lincolnshire jobs” and calling resource development “our patriotic duty.”
The Reform spokesperson also echoed Donald Trump’s protectionist rhetoric, proposing “tight quotas and significant tariffs” on certain Chinese imports to shield UK manufacturing. In contrast, Mike Childs from Friends of the Earth argued that genuine energy security would come from renewable power and home insulation programs rather than fossil fuel extraction.
Reform UK currently holds no prospect of forming a government in the near term, meaning these proposals remain theoretical policy positions. The party has not indicated when it might release detailed legislative plans or economic impact assessments for its proposed great repeal act.
