General election latest: PM laughs off washout election launch; Starmer on why he wants to

The Unite union has criticised Labour’s package of workers rights for having “more holes in it than Swiss cheese”.

General secretary Sharon Graham accused the party of watering down its policies after rebranding “Labour’s new deal for working people” as “Labour’s plan to make work pay”.

Reports suggested it could go through a formal consultation process with businesses, potentially toning down the pledges, but Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the package was the “most significant set of protections for a generation”.

Ms Graham said: “The number of caveats and get-outs means it is in danger of becoming a bad bosses’ charter.

“Working people expect Labour to be their voice. They need to know that Labour will not back down to corporate profiteers determined to maintain the status quo of colossal profits at the expense of everyone else. 

“The country desperately needs a Labour government, but the party must show it will stick to its guns on improving workers’ rights.”

Elements of the deal include a “right to switch off”, a proposed ban on zero hours contracts and stronger employment rights from day one of a new job.

Sir Keir told the BBC: “We have come to an agreement with the trade unions on the new deal for working people.

“There’s been no watering down. This is the most significant set of protections for a generation.

“It’s also something which I think employers and good businesses would say, ‘looking at the detail of it, this is what we’re doing in good businesses.'”