Brexit news latest: Union chief piles pressure on Theresa May to call another general election or order vote on final deal

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, warned of the potentially devastating impact of Brexit
PA Wire/PA Images
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A union chief today piled pressure on Theresa May to call a general election or order another vote on any Brexit deal struck with Brussels.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis warned that Brexit could destroys jobs, workers’ rights and hit living standards, as well as damage hospitals, schools and other public services.

“When and if an agreement is reached, asking the public for their views is definitely one option, as is thorough parliamentary scrutiny. But the best option of all would be a general election,” he said.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is also facing growing pressure to back a second Brexit vote so that Britain can decide on its future with “real information” about the impact of quitting the European Union. Delegates at the TUC’s annual conference in Manchester were today debating Brexit.

“The British public have been misled over what Brexit means for the country,” said Jon Skewes of the Royal College of Midwives, who will speak in the debate.

“We are calling for a public vote on any Brexit deal so that the people of this nation can make a choice about leaving the EU armed with real information, not the propaganda of those campaigning to leave.”

Theresa May is under pressure to call a vote on the final Brexit deal
Getty Images

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said it will back another popular vote if there is no general election and the Brexit deal does not “deliver justice for working people... protect jobs, rights at work and peace in Northern Ireland”.

GMB general secretary Tim Roache, who is demanding the public have the final say on Brexit, is to address a People’s Vote rally at the start of Labour’s annual rally in Liverpool later this month.

Unite is pushing for a general election if the Government’s Brexit proposals are flawed and is “open” to the possibility of another “popular vote” on them. Unison regards a second national poll as an “option”.

However, union chiefs are coming under pressure from many of their members, as is the Labour leadership, to take a firmer line on supporting the public having the final say on any Brexit deal.

A YouGov poll found Unison’s members back a so-called People’s Vote by 66 per cent to 22 per cent, and would opt to stay in the EU by 61 per cent to 35 per cent.

Unite’s members support a People’s Vote by 59 per cent to 33 and back staying in by 61 per cent to 35 per cent.

Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy: “There is a growing momentum across the Labour movement (for a second vote). There will be tremendous pressure I think at party conference.”

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