ANGELA RAYNER defended the Employment Rights Bill today after being told workers across the country need “immediate” protection from fire and rehire.

The Deputy Prime Minister talked up her trade union roots as she introduced the second reading of the landmark legislation to the Commons.

She however dodged a question when challenged to provide details on when its landmark employment reforms on unfair dismissal would be introduced by Labour MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr Steve Witherden.