Theresa May “simply represents more of the same failed politics” and “only Labour can offer real change for a better way”, Jon Trickett has said.

Trickett, Labour’s shadow lord president of the council, has launched an attack of the Prime Minister’s record ahead of her speech tonight at Mansion House. May will use her address tonight to tell business leaders about the UK will use its strength to improve trading relations with “old allies and new partners alike” after leaving the European Union.

But Trickett says that it is another empty speech that fails to say what her plan for Brexit actually is, and is undermined by her actions.

He said: “Theresa May ‎has spent the early days of her time in No. 10 giving speeches about spreading opportunity and providing leadership but her actions have betrayed her.

“She talks about leading Europe. But has no plan for Brexit. She talks about extending opportunity. But Britain’s working people are worse off. And she talks about transforming the economy. But all that is on offer is more cuts, poor investment and little, if any, growth.

He added: “Britain can once again be a great country, but instead we are facing national decline under this failed Tory leadership.”

Trickett, a close Jeremy Corbyn ally who also acts as one of Labour’s campaigns chiefs, demanded a snap election following Theresa May’s rise to Downing Street without so much as a full leadership contest. Ahead of the Labour conference, Corbyn told members he was putting the party on “election footing” – and after the High Courts ruled that Parliament would have to trigger article 50, some now believe a spring general election is increasingly likely.