Toby Young Rips Apart Labour’s ‘Pub Banter Ban’ in Lords Maiden Speech – Guido Fawkes

Toby Young Rips Apart Labour’s ‘Pub Banter Ban’ in Lords Maiden Speech

Free speech champion Lord Toby Young delivered his maiden speech today with a fiery warning about the ‘banter ban’ buried in Labour’s Employment Rights Bill. Clause 20 of the Bill expands employer liability for third-party (non-sexual) indirect harassment of employees, meaning pub landlords may have to hire ‘banter bouncers’ to eavesdrop on punters and remove them if someone takes offence at what is said. Quoting a briefing from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Lord Young stated:

“The interaction of the third party’s protection from discrimination and the employees’ protection from harassment is complex and likely to be challenging for employers to navigate.”

“Challenging” means expensive, as landlords will need legal advice to determine their liability. As Lord Young points out, pubs are already closing at a record pace, saying this ‘banter clause’ “will accelerate the erasure of such a vital part of our history and heritage.” A punchy takedown of Labour’s latest attempt to police speech…