Theresa May tries to woo Labour support for Brexit deal days ahead of vote

Theresa May in the House of Commons. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA Wire . - Credit: PA

Theresa May wants to win over the support of Labour MPs for her Brexit deal – by proposing a package of safeguards for workers’ rights.

Time is running out for Theresa May to win over MPs to back her plan, but government sources have told the Press Association that it may attempt to win over the opposition by bidding to enshrine EU standards in law.

The amendment would keep EU rules on pay and conditions, health and safety issues, plus environmental standards.

The move comes after the prime minister was defeated once again the House of Commons on the withdrawal agreement.

MPs insisted that if the PM’s deal is voted down she must set out a ‘Plan B’ to Parliament within three sitting days.

Labour MP John Mann, one of the people behind the amendment on workers’ rights, told the Daily Mirror that government backing for the proposal could make the PM’s plan ‘more attractive’.

He said: ‘If we have a guarantee that works on workers’ rights and conditions, that’s significant.’

However, shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said there was little enthusiasm for the idea among the Labour leadership.

‘When it comes to the crunch I don’t trust the Conservatives on workers’ rights,’ he told BBC Radio 4 Today.

‘Even the noises that are being made in the press by the Conservatives don’t mean any such agreement would be legally binding when it comes to protecting workers’ rights.’