Brexit: Boris Johnson shifting power to wealthy, says Corbyn
Corbyn promises 'biggest' boost to workers' rights
(about 1 hour later)
Jeremy Corbyn has accused Boris Johnson of hijacking the 2016 EU referendum result to shift even more power and wealth to those at the top.
A Labour government would introduce the biggest extension of workers' rights ever seen in the UK, including a new department to protect workers' rights, party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said.
Speaking at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) conference in Brighton, he said a no-deal Brexit would drive down rights and protections for workers.
He told the TUC conference the aim was to deliver better wages, greater security and give workers more of a say in how their workplaces are run.
He also promised a further referendum with a "credible Leave option" if Labour wins the next general election.
He pledged to stand up for the majority who do the work and pay their taxes.
It comes after MPs rejected a second attempt by the PM to call an election.
"Not the few at the top who hoard the wealth and dodge their taxes," he said.
Parliament is now suspended for five weeks, until the Queen's Speech on 14 October.
Addressing the conference in Brighton, Mr Corbyn said Labour would appoint a secretary of state for employment rights and a workers' protection agency to enforce rights, standards and protections so that every job was a "good job".
The shut-down comes after royal assent was granted to a new law which will force the prime minister to seek a Brexit delay to 31 January 2020 unless a deal - or a no-deal exit - is approved by MPs by 19 October.
"If you're a worker with a boss who makes you work extra hours for no pay or forces you into dangerous situations, you deserve a government that's on your side and ready to step in to support you," he said.
MPs also approved a motion from Mr Corbyn demanding the government abide by the rule of law.
He added that workers would be offered security, dignity, fair pay and rights in the workplace under minimum standards set through collective bargaining.
In response, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government would always uphold the law but the legislation in question was "flawed" and the UK would continue to negotiate on the basis of leaving the EU on 31 October.
The Labour leader also repeated an earlier party pledge to repeal the 2016 Trade Union Act, which made strikes illegal unless at least half of eligible union members take part in the ballot.
In his speech, Mr Corbyn said the cost of a "reckless" no-deal Brexit would not be borne by Mr Johnson and his "wealthy friends", but by the "rest of us".
Other new policies would include:
Mr Corbyn said a no-deal Brexit would destroy jobs, push up food prices and cause shortages of medicines.
Mr Corbyn told delegates: "The next Labour government will bring about the biggest extension of rights for workers that our country has ever seen. We will put power in the hands of workers.
"And who bears the cost of that? It wouldn't be Johnson and his wealthy friends. It's not their livelihoods on the line. It would be the rest of us," he said.
"For 40 years, the share of the cake going to workers has been getting smaller and smaller.
He said the Conservatives would use a no-deal "crash" to "push through policies that benefit them and their super-rich supporters and hurt everyone else".
"It's no coincidence that the same period has seen a sustained attack on the organisations that represent workers - trade unions.
A no-deal Brexit would be a "Trump deal Brexit", Mr Corbyn said, which would lead to a "one-sided US trade deal negotiated from a position of weakness".
"We have witnessed a deliberate, decades-long transfer of power away from working people.
He went on to say Labour would trigger a general election once the risk of a no-deal Brexit has been removed.
"The consequences are stark for all workers, whether members of a trade union or not. Pay is lower than it was a decade ago in real terms.
"Our priority is, first, to stop no-deal, and then to trigger a general election," Mr Corbyn said.
"Labour is on the side of the people in the real battle against the born-to-rule establishment that [Boris] Johnson represents."
"Amber Rudd's resignation confirmed that the government is not serious about trying to get a deal in Brussels.
Mr Corbyn's speech also brought clarification on Labour's position on Brexit, with him promising a further referendum with a "credible Leave option" if Labour wins the next general election.
"As the prime minister's top adviser reportedly said, the negotiations are 'a sham'.
He told the conference an general election was coming, but Labour would not allow Mr Johnson to dictate the terms.
"No-one can trust the word of a prime minister who is threatening to break the law to force through no-deal.
"So a general election is coming. But we won't allow Johnson to dictate the terms.
"And in that election we will commit to a public vote with a credible option to leave and the option to remain."
"And in that election we will commit to a public vote with a credible option to leave and the option to remain."
This statement on Labour's new position comes after union leaders called for a Leave option from the party.
But some senior party figures, including shadow chancellor John McDonnell and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, have said they will campaign to stay in the EU under any circumstances - even if Labour negotiates its own deal.
But some senior party figures, including shadow chancellor John McDonnell and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, have said they will campaign to stay in the EU in any circumstances, even if Labour negotiates its own deal.
On Sunday, Amber Rudd, who resigned as work and pensions secretary, told the BBC there was "very little evidence" the government would get a new deal, and when she asked for details of the efforts she received a "one-page summary".
Labour has been united in opposing a no-deal Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn will highlight what he sees as its dangers - from destroying jobs to pushing up food prices.
But Labour has been less united over what policies to pursue during a general election campaign.
Senior figures in the party believe that Labour should campaign unequivocally for remain.
They have been arguing that this is the way to recover ground lost to the Lib Dems at the recent European elections.
But the big Labour affiliated unions take a different view. While they'd rather stay in the EU than have no-deal, they believe a Labour government should offer voters a choice in a referendum between a negotiated deal and staying in the EU.
And the Unite union in particular has resisted attempts to transform Labour in to an avowedly remain party.
Jeremy Corbyn is likely to make clear that this is his position too. But pro-EU grassroots activists are hoping this month's Labour conference will commit the leadership to backing remain under all circumstances.
The Conservatives say Labour is simply offering more dither and delay on Brexit.
