Farage’s plan for equal pay legislation could leave female workers paying the price, unions warned after the Reform UK party unveiled a new “women and motherhood protection act” ahead of the Makerfield by‑election.
Union reaction to the proposed repeal
The Trades Union Congress said the bill threatens the right to equal pay for jobs that require comparable skill, effort and responsibility, even when the roles differ. Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary, called the proposal “shameless and deceptive”.
What the bill would change
According to the party’s brief, the act would replace the 2010 law with provisions that keep “the right to receive the same pay for the same work” while limiting courts’ ability to assess “the relative value of fundamentally different occupations”. The proposal also extends the time limit for pregnancy‑related unfair dismissal claims from three months to a year.
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Reform UK argues that older statutes – the Equal Pay Act of 1970 and the Employment Rights Act of 1996 – already protect women and mothers. They claim the new legislation would “focus on genuine cases of pay discrimination”.
Critics note that the Equal Pay Act was repealed in 2010, raising doubts about how quickly its provisions could be reinstated. The party has not provided a timeline for re‑introducing the 1970 provisions.
Recent court rulings highlight the stakes
In a 2024 tribunal decision, more than 3,500 employees of the clothing retailer Next won a case that found store staff – mostly women – were paid less than warehouse workers, who are over half male. The judgment forced the retailer to address pay disparities, though the company is now appealing.
Political fallout and candidate controversy
Reform’s candidate for Makerfield, Rob Kenyon, has been mentioned in the media.
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Outside perspectives
While the party frames the act as “pro‑woman, pro‑mother and pro‑family”, observers point out that the legislation could limit legal recourse for women in occupations where pay gaps are not overtly based on gender but on job classification. An overview of the Equality Act shows it covers a broad range of discrimination claims, not just direct wage differentials.
Potential impact on workers
If the new act were enacted, courts might be barred from comparing roles like retail floor staff with warehouse positions, even when the duties are comparable. That could leave many women without a legal avenue to challenge lower pay.
The union’s warning is clear.
The TUC warned that the shift could “make life harder for families”, especially those relying on a single income. Their analysis suggests that the removal of “equal pay for work of equal value” could translate into lower earnings for thousands of women across sectors.
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Some commentators note that the proposal’s focus on “genuine cases of pay discrimination” may be a euphemism for narrowing the scope of claims. The language in the draft act is sparse, offering little detail on how “fundamentally different occupations” would be defined.
Election context
Voters in Makerfield will head to the polls this Thursday, where the Reform candidate faces off against a Labour contender. The controversy surrounding Kenyon’s remarks and the party’s stance on women’s rights adds another layer to the contest.
Farage has downplayed the candidate’s comments as “pub talk”, but union leaders say the episode highlights a broader pattern of dismissiveness toward gender‑related issues within the party.
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