Louise Haigh announces stronger flexible working rights at TUC
Louise Haigh told the TUC that the government will strengthen the right to flexible working, with employers forced to explain any refusal.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Louise Haigh, standing in for Deputy Prime Minister Andy Burnham, used her speech to the TUC conference in Brighton to set out the government's plans for workers and communities. She announced that the right to flexible working will be strengthened, and attacked the record of previous Conservative governments.
Speaking to delegates, Haigh said the new rules would mean that if an employer wants to turn down a flexible working request, they will have to sit down with the employee, properly consider it, and explain why. The change builds on the Employment Rights Act, which she said had already delivered the biggest uplift in workers' rights in a generation, including sick pay from day one, an end to fire and rehire, and stronger protections against unfair dismissal.
Haigh also used the speech to promise a rebalancing of power away from Westminster and towards local communities. "We're going to put power back into our communities. We're going to put power back into the workplace. And together, we're going to put power back into the hands of working people," she said. She argued that the government expected to lose power - meaning decisions should be taken at the most local level possible, and cited examples including transport links and training for future jobs.
Before the speech, Sky News reported that Haigh would also address concerns about artificial intelligence. She was expected to say that while AI has enormous potential, the government must heed warnings from those developing it and work with international partners to protect public safety and national security. The TUC was due to debate AI later in the afternoon.
Haigh's appearance came after Andy Burnham's father died, forcing him to cancel his engagements. She received a standing ovation at the end of her address and took questions from the audience.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Sky News |
|---|---|
| Haigh said the government would return power to communities and workplaces. | |
| Haigh was not the scheduled speaker for this session at the TUC conference. | |
| Louise Haigh is deputising for Andy Burnham, who cancelled engagements after his father died. | |
| Rishi Sunak wrote in the Sunday Times that recent AI warnings should be a wake-up call. | |
| The government will require employers to meet with employees to explain any rejection of a flexible working request. | |
| The UK government, through Louise Haigh, said it will heed AI warnings and work with international partners to prioritise public safety and national security. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News covered the story in two segments: one previewing Louise Haigh's speech with a focus on AI warnings and the other carrying extended excerpts of her address. The coverage highlighted the policy announcement on flexible working and the broader theme of decentralising power, while also noting the backdrop of Andy Burnham's absence due to a family bereavement.
- “If an employer wants to turn down a request, they will have to sit down with their employee, properly consider it, and explain why.”
- “We're going to put power back into our communities. We're going to put power back into the workplace.”
- “The government, she will say, must heed the warnings of those who are at the forefront of developing this technology and be ready to work with international partners to prioritise public safety and national security.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.