TUC boss Frances O’Grady defends working class Brits who voted Brexit

THE PRO-EU boss of the TUC yesterday leapt to the defence of working class Brits who voted for Brexit – as she dismissed calls for a second Referendum.

Finally admitting sky-high immigration is putting pressure on blue-collar workers, Frances O’Grady said it wasn’t “racist” to have voted Out because of wages being undercut or pressure on school places.

4

And she admitted the union movement had to work harder to reconnect with towns and communities that felt marginalised – “to show we listen and we have learned”.

The startling comments at the TUC Annual Congress come just three months after Frances O’Grady said she was “fed up” with migrants being blamed for all of the UK’s problems.

She was one of the few Remain campaigners who spoke out in defence of mass migration during the EU Referendum campaign.

4

But yesterday she said: “We were right to ask our members to vote Remain, but frankly it was a hard ask in communities where there was no prosperity to be shared … where people too often feel looked down on and sneered at.

“Also – this is important for people outside of this hall – when our people talk about pressure on schools, about wages a bring undercut about fear of change, that doesn’t mean that working class people are racist.”

During a passionate address yesterday Ms O’Grady urged Theresa May to protect workers’ rights during Brexit talks – and try to retain access to the EU’s single market.

4

4

RELATED STORIES

Cream of the crop

Post-Brexit Britain will only accept highly-skilled workers with well-paid job offers

AR-MAY-GEDDON

Cameron resigns as Theresa May nukes his legacy because he couldn't back her on Brexit OR schools

GISELA STUART

As Boris spearheads campaign to ensure Brexit is a success, I say it's not about Leavers and Remainers... but Doers

PROJECT FALSE

Experts say Brexit will not cause a recession despite Project Fear scaremongering before the EU referendum

But she insisted the TUC agreed that Brexit meant Brexit.

In another blow to Labour leadership contender Owen Smith, she said: “In this movement, we’re democrats. We accept what the British people have said.”

GMB general secretary Tim Roache on Sunday said there was no point for a second Referendum – despite backing Mr Smith who is calling for one. The GMB chief said: “I think that boat has sailed.

“What happens if that [second] vote says to remain?

“Do we have another one to say it’s best of three? Or another couple and best of five?”