Keir Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, responding to Tory calls for a ‘root and branch’ review of EU regulations, said:

“The report that Iain Duncan Smith cites describes basic employment rights as costly regulations.

“On the eve of triggering Article 50 it is increasingly clear that rights and protections are seen by many senior Tories, including in the Cabinet, as an “expensive” luxury that British workers and consumer consumers can do without.

“That is why one of Labour’s six tests for the Brexit deal is that it defends hard fought for rights and protections and doesn’t lead to a race to the bottom.

“The Prime Minister must stand up to the growing voices in her Party that see Brexit as a once in a generation opportunity to dismantle the rights and protections that underpin our economic model.”