Tories accused of 'insulting' voters with desperate pub banter claims

The Tories have been accused of "insulting" the public by deriding plans to protect workers as "banter".

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith last week posted a social media video claiming legislation to keep employees safe from being harassed by abusive customers was an attempt to "ban banter". But polling exposed how his lame attack is out of touch with voters.

Eight in ten (79%) people support the plans to protect workers from harassment, according to a poll of 5,000 people for the TUC. Only 14% of respondents said they did not support the idea.

It comes amid a concerted push from right-wingers and big business against the Government's flagship workers rights reforms.

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The Employment Rights Bill, which returns to Parliament this week, includes a demand for bosses to take all reasonable steps to prevent third parties from harassing their workers.

Reform leader said in January that the move could spell an end to pub banter.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Nobody should be abused while doing their job. But sadly too many pub staff, shop workers and workers face this kind of behaviour.

“The Employment Rights Bill will introduce new protections for workers from harassment and abuse.

“This is about basic decency and common sense. It has nothing to do with ordinary pub banter.

"Nigel Farage and are insulting the public’s intelligence by conflating workplace abuse and harassment with banter.

“Protecting workers from harassment is one of the most popular policies in the government’s Employment Rights Bill – this just shows how out of touch Reform and the Tories are.”

Peter McLeod, who conducted the polling through his firm Hold Sway, said: “Protecting workers from harassment is the kind of common-sense improvement to working conditions that people like about the Employment Rights Bill.

“I’m not surprised to see it rank highly in the poll, because when we discussed it in focus groups, it just made sense."

Mr Griffith doubled down last night, saying: “’s Employment Rights Bill is a trade union charter and will turn every workplace into a litigation minefield. It is not about protecting workers from harassment.

"These changes will allow people to sue over overheard conversations that aren’t even directed at them. chants, political opinions, even stand-up comedy could be grounds for legal action.”

:: Hold Sway polled a nationally representative sample of 5,000 adults in Great Britain online March 4 and 9.

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