May launches bid to win over Labour to Brexit by boosting rights for pregnant women at work

THERESA MAY last night made a huge pitch for Labour Brexit votes by toughening up workers’ rights for pregnant women and new parents.

In a huge charm offensive, the PM said they would now get up to six months’ redundancy protection when they go back to work - instead of two weeks.

She said this went much further than current EU requirements.

Officials said one in nine women claim to have been fired or made redundant after returning to work following birth.

It followed a series of meetings in No10 with trade union chiefs such as Unite’s Len McCluskey and TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady.

And it came with Downing Street desperate to “peel off” Labour MPs in next Tuesday’s showdown on parliamentary plans to stop a No Deal.

Caroline Flint, the Labour MP for Doncaster, is the only one to so far publicly denounce a move by Yvette Cooper and Tory Nick Boles to delay Brexit.

It’s unacceptable that too many parents still encounter difficulties when returning to work

Theresa May

More than a dozen Tories have indicated they will back it – leaving No10 staring at inevitable defeat.

Mrs May said: “People in this country already benefit from some of the most rigorous workplace standards in the world.

“But we are determined to do even more as we leave the EU.

“It’s unacceptable that too many parents still encounter difficulties when returning to work.

“Today’s proposals are set to provide greater protection for new parents in the workplace, and put their minds at ease at this important time.”

Downing Street earlier this month indicated it would back an amendment tabled by Ms Flint and Labour’s John Mann – calling for Brexit Britain to look at mirroring the EU on workers and environmental rights for years to come.

Just three Labour MPs sided with Theresa May when her deal was defeated by a historic 230 votes.

Speaking in Downing Street, Mr McCluskey said he urged the PM to extend the Brexit negotiations by three months to help avoid a No Deal.

He said: “I cannot conceive any prime minister taking us out of Europe with a no-deal. It would be catastrophic.”

Unison’s Dave Prentis said a No Deal Brexit “must be avoided at all costs”, while GMB general secretary Tim Roache said: “We can’t carry on like this. As this crisis worsens, pretending nothing has changed is simply not good enough.”

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