A LABOUR lord has vowed to submit an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill if the government fails to commit to repealing four decades of anti-trade union laws.

Employment law barrister Lord John Hendy KC made the promise at the Sussex Morning Star Readers and Supporters Group TUC meeting in Brighton on Tuesday.

Labour has pledged to repeal the 2016 Trade Union Act and minimum service level laws enacted in 2023.

But Britain’s anti-union laws have been found in breach of international standards, Lord Hendy said.

He added British workers are effectively banned from taking industrial action in support of workers overseas or taking industrial action to criticise government policy.

He said: “The Labour Party is committed to the rule of law, the rule of law means abiding by international law as well as national law.

“If they won’t be in the Employment Rights Bill, I personally will be putting forward amendments in the House of Lords to put them in there.”