Minister defends 'pragmatic' U-turn on workers' rights

Paul SeddonPolitical reporterPA MediaThe education secretary has defended Labour's U-turn over offering all workers the right to claim unfair dismissal from their first day in a job.Instead, ministers now plan to reduce the qualifying period from the current two years to six months, in line with a deal agreed by some unions and industry groups.Bridget Phillipson told the BBC the climbdown was a "pragmatic" move…