It was reported that Mandelson argued that ‘the laws would put an unacceptable burden on businesses struggling with the economic downturn’.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220507/Mandelson-delays-worker-law-changes-help-business.html#ixzz0U0q1AZV3
Perhaps more significantly it puts a seal on the pro-business consensus between all main political parties regarding future de-regulation of the labour market.
Mandelson’s concession to relentless employer lobbying prefigures an offensive by a future Tory Government on workplace rights and standards.
The Tories make no secret of their intentions in a recent neo-Thatcherite Green Paper ‘Regulation in a Post-Bureaucratic Age’, which sets out Conservative Party policy proposals for ‘reducing the burden of regulation and red tape’. Measures include:
- The creation of a “Star Chamber” cabinet committee, chaired by Ken Clarke, which will oversee a “one in – one out” system of legislation whereby any new law must include cuts in old laws.
- Power given to the public to nominate 30 pieces of bad legislation, guidance and forms every year which will then have to be revised or abolished within 12 months
- The introduction of a “sunset clause” for every quango, requiring its role to be reviewed and renewed every seven years. Quangos will e given a duty to reduce their regulatory impact.
- Increased Parliamentary accountability of regulators and inspectorates by Select Committees. Select Committees will also have a role in the appointment of the chairs of regulatory bodies.
- The publication of a cost and value comparison of local councils, allowing local people to judge the value for money of their council. This will replace the current work done by the Audit Commission.
- Firms to be audited externally and allowed to refuse entry to official inspectors
- Consultation on changes to the employment and discrimination tribunals system.
http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2009/10/Cutting_the_burden_of_red_tape_on_business.aspx?ConservativesTvTabView=Conservatives.TV
