Unions riled over delayed corporate killing laws

The Government’s backtracking on corporate killing legislation has angered unions.

The often delayed corporate manslaughter Bill was a Labour manifesto promise in 2001. It will now only be published as a draft Bill.

The new proposals were announced as part of the Queens Speech earlier this week.

Unions also criticised the fact that companies, rather than individual directors, will be liable for prosecution.

The offence of corporate manslaughter will be linked to existing health and safety laws.

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Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, said: “After many years of waiting, we are pleased to see a draft Bill on corporate manslaughter in the Queens Speech. But we are disappointed that the Bill doesnÕt threaten individual directors with the ultimate sanction of a jail sentence.”