Labour taking orders from the Unions over tribunal fees say the Tories but Labour say the Tories are out of touch

Today Labour have opposed the Government's introduction of employment tribunal fees, the Tories claim this is, following union boss Len McCluskey's opposition to it. By ensuring claimants make a contribution up to £1000 to the cost of their claim when they can afford to do so, employment tribunal fees will prevent drawn-out employment disputes that harm both workers and small businesses. Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna has opposed this plan, proposed by the Coalition government but the Tories claim that Mr Umunna's opposition came following Len McCluskey's opposition to it. Unite have given £8.4 million to Labour under Ed Miliband.

Michael Fallon, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, said: "It is not fair for hardworking people to foot the entire bill for claimants taking workplace disputes to a tribunal. We believe people who make a claim should pay a contribution where they can afford to do so. But by opposing this sensible step to reduce burdens on small businesses, Labour are once again taking orders from their biggest paymaster - union baron Len McCluskey. It's the same old Labour. If Ed Miliband is too weak to stand up to the union bosses who bankroll his party, then he's too weak to stand up for hardworking people."

However the Shadow Justice Secretary, Sadiq Khan, hit back by saying that government is "out of touch" with millions of people. commenting that the changes introduced today on employment tribunals, Mr Khan said: "Today's blanket introduction of fees tells you all you need to know about how out of touch David Cameron's Government is. With one million young unemployed they think the real problem in Britain today is that it needs to be easier to fire people rather than to hire them. Workers who have lost their jobs will simply not be able to afford tribunal fees which could be as much as £1000 and the Government's changes have a disproportionate impact on women workers."