Brexit: Theresa May compared to a 'supply teacher' with a cabinet of children by TUC boss

General Secretary Frances O'Grady condemns Government for lack of Brexit strategy and calls for UK to remain in single market

Frances O'Grady, the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (AFP)

A senior union leader has compared the Prime Minister to a “supply teacher” presiding over a Cabinet of unruly schoolchildren as she condemned the Government's lack of preparation over Brexit.

TUC boss Frances O’Grady accused the Government of lacking a realistic negotiating strategy and urged politicians to “keep all options on the table” - including remaining in the single market in the long term.

The intervention, which comes after the TUC’s general council backed remaining in the single market, is likely to increase pressure on Labour to soften its position of only staying in the EU trade agreement during the post-Brexit transition period.

Ms O’Grady, addressing delegates at the TUC’s annual congress, said: “One year later, the government still hasn’t come up with a proper plan.

“Like children who haven’t done their homework, turning up at school on a Monday morning.

“Fox, Davis, Johnson, Gove. The Cabinet’s answer to Grange Hill, playing up because they’ve got a supply teacher.

“Pretending they’re paying attention while messing about at the back of the class.”

It comes ahead of crunch parliamentary votes on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill - sometimes known as the Repeal Bill - on Monday night.

Labour has vowed to oppose the legislation over concerns it amounts to a power grab for Theresa May by allowing laws changes without full parliamentary scrutiny.

Ms O’Grady warned that the Bill would allow “open season” on workers’ rights if it passes through the Commons unamended.

She told the congress: “Will the Government guarantee to protect and enhance workers’ rights?

“Rights won by unions joining together across borders, over generations.

“I can’t see it in the Bill today, and that means that if this Bill becomes law un-amended, the Government can declare open season on our rights, open to attack at a stroke by this Government or any future government.”

She dismissed concern that remaining in the single market would mean accepting “unfettered” freedom of movement, insisting there were ways to manage migration fairly.

Brexit Secretary David Davis issued a warning to MPs planning to oppose the Bill, saying it would amount to a "chaotic Brexit" that the public did not vote for.

Several votes are expected in the early hours of Tuesday morning, including a Labour amendment, the main second reading motion and the programme motion, which sets out the time available for MPs to go through the Bill line-by-line in the Commons.