Oral Answers to Questions

Dan Carden Excerpts

Thursday 7th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Walker]

I refer the hon. Lady to the paper we published this week, which sets that out clearly. We see a huge advantage both to the UK and the EU in continuing that collaboration, and we look forward to discussing it as we move towards talks on the future partnership.

[Dan Carden (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab)]

11. If he will include within the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill proposals for a mechanism to ensure that UK workers' rights and protections remain in line with EU rights and protections after the UK leaves the EU.

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

21. If he will include within the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill proposals for a mechanism to ensure that UK workers' rights and protections remain in line with EU rights and protections after the UK leaves the EU.

[Dan Carden]

That is very interesting, because the Secretary of State for International Trade wrote in the Financial Times in 2012:

“To restore Britain’s competitiveness we must begin by deregulating the labour market. Political objections must be overridden… It is intellectually unsustainable to believe that workplace rights should remain untouchable”.

Is it not the case that we cannot trust the Tories with workers’ rights?

[Mr Baker]

It is certainly not the case. I will say to the hon. Gentleman once again that this Government are committed not only to protecting workers’ rights, but to ensuring that workers’ rights keep pace with the changing labour market, as evidenced by the Taylor report, which the Government are currently considering.