Lord Mendelsohn, Labour’s Shadow Business Minister in the House of Lords, commenting on the Tory concessions on the Trade Union Bill, said:

“With Ministers responding positively to the mood of Peers across the House, this is a major turning point on the Trade Union Bill – one of the most politically partisan pieces of legislation put before Parliament.

“The concessions offered on payroll deduction of union subscriptions, facility time and the powers of the Certification Officer are welcome. But I hope the Government will now find a similarly sensible way forward on the unresolved issues of e-balloting and the political fund, after the strong cross-party backing in the Lords of earlier amendments to the Bill.”