EU referendum: Labour warns Brexit vote would jeopardise workers' rights in UK

Labour have put workers' rights at the front and centre of the party's latest EU referendum campaign, with just over a fortnight to go before the 23 June ballot. Jeremy Corbyn was joined by deputy leader Tom Watson and shadow business secretary Angela Eagle in central London to unveil Labour In's election poster.

The campaign warns that rights, such as paid holiday and maternity leave, could be scrapped if the UK voted to split from the EU. Eagle spoke to IBTimes UK immediately after the launch, claiming that many Brexit campaigners wanted to axe a range of labour regulations.

"Because we have been very active in the EU over the years, we have managed to incorporate into European law in the social chapter, which Labour joined when we came into government in 1997, a flaw of workers' rights, which are guaranteed across Europe," she argued.

"That's part of having a single market that includes paid holiday, maternity/paternity rights and access to equal pay. A flaw below which right-wing Conservative governments that get elected here cannot take us."

Eagle added: "A lot of the people that are active in the Brexit campaign want to take us below that flaw and the fact is that they can't, that's why workers' rights are on the ballot in the referendum campaign.

"We can always do more in the country to go above the basic rights and I would argue that we should because it makes for a batter fairer, more effective economy."

The UK's major trade unions, including Unite and Unison, have also warned that a Leave vote at the EU referendum could threaten workers' rights in Britain. But German-born Labour MP Gisela Stuart, the chair of the Vote Leave campaign, has claimed it is "deeply misleading" to suggest that a Brexit would put workers' rights at risk.

"The best way to ensure that workers' rights are protected is to have a parliament that is directly accountable to the people; in other words, to put power back in people's hands," Stuart said. "The EU prevents that, and means that unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats can impose rules and regulations that the British people have no say over."

The latest online opinion poll from YouGov, of more than 2,000 people between 5 and 6 June, put Remain one point ahead of Leave (43% versus 42%), with 11% of respondents undecided.