Unions chief Frances O’Grady says TUC poised to back a second EU vote
2 min read
Unions chief Frances O’Grady has warned Theresa May that the Trades Union Congress is ready to throw its “full weight” behind a second EU referendum.
Ms O’Grady said that unless the Government secured a deal that would benefit working people she would back a so called ‘people’s vote’.
She told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show: "I want to serve notice to the Prime Minister today that if we don't get the deal that working people need then the TUC will be throwing our full weight behind a campaign for a popular vote, so that people get a say on whether that deal is good enough or not."
"It's only right that people should get a say," she added.
Ms O’Grady warned that crashing out of the EU without a deal would be “an absolute disaster” and called on Mrs May to delay negotiations in order to ensure an agreement is reached.
“Time is running out,” she said. “What the Prime Minister should be doing now is seeking an extension on Article 50 so we don’t crash out in March.”
The intervention comes after members of Britain’s leading trade unions overwhelmingly backed a second Brexit vote.
In a new poll by YouGov, 68% of Unison, Unite and GMB members said they would support another referendum.
This will heap further pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to back the campaign, given the three unions plough millions of pounds into the Labour party every year.
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