Labour has been slammed after its MPs voted through a controversial bill that could see banter in pubs and bars banned. The Employment Rights Bill is designed to boost protections for staff and makes a number of changes to zero-hours contracts to statutory sick pay.

However, a small clause within the Bill could have a devastating effect on free speech in Britain, as bar staff will be forced to police casual conversations and jokes. Clause 18 of the Bill demands “reasonable steps” by staff to prevent harassment of protected characteristics by patrons and punters. This could mean anyone in a pub making a joke about sexuality, gender, race, or disabilities is in breach of the law and staff would be responsible for reporting it.

Today the Conservative Party Chairman tore into Labour MPs for backing the bill, calling the new "pub banter police" clause “obviously ridiculous”.

Nigel Huddleston said: “Since being founded in 1900 Labour have been telling us what to do, say and think. And here we are again...

“Labour are forcing pubs and other places to police your banter. It’s obviously ridiculous. I'm proud to have voted against it.”

A Conservative Party graphic explained: “Labour’s Banter Ban means that if an employee overhears something they find offensive, even if it wasn’t directed at them, their employer can be sued."

When the plans first emerged last October, the Free Speech Union campaign group branded it a “snowflakes’ charter”.

General Secretary Lord Toby Young blasted: “Expect every pub in England and Wales to employ ‘banter cops’ who’ll be tasked with eavesdropping on customers’ conversations and barring anyone who tells an ‘inappropriate’ joke.”

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has also warned that the clause could “disproportionately curtail” free speech.

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith set out an example: “Picture this: You run a pub.

“Do you now need to put up signs warning customers NOT to discuss certain topics? Hire "banter bouncers" to listen in on chats? Kick out customers for telling a rude joke? What “reasonable steps” will be enough? No one knows.

“And it’s not just pubs. At football games, fans often shout “Are you blind?” at referees. Under Clause 18, a partially sighted staff member could sue the club for not protecting them from ‘harassment’. Clubs will be forced to police chants & ban certain phrases.”

He branded it a “direct attack on free speech”.