Six of Britain’s biggest employer groups fear compromise deal brokered with bosses and union leaders is at risk

• Nils Pratley: The big quarrels over the workers’ rights bill have barely started

Britain’s biggest business groups have urged Conservative peers to stop blocking Labour’s workers’ rights bill in the House of Lords to avoid throwing away a compromise deal reached with trade unions.

With the clock ticking before Christmas, six of the country’s biggest employers’ groups warned that failure to pass the legislation before parliament rises on Thursday could put at risk a deal brokered with bosses and union leaders.