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The Brexit Bill looks poised to drop crucial vows Boris Johnson made to secure workers' rights after Britain leaves the EU.

Downing Street refused yesterday to confirm if the Bill - which MPs will vote on this Friday - would include pledges the Tory leader made to win over Labour MPs back in October.

Now the Times reports that the guarantees have indeed been stripped out now that the PM has an 80-seat majority.

Failing to deny the pledges have been dropped, Top Tory Michael Gove said today there must be a "straightforward approach" to getting the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through by January 31.

The signals from No10 prompted outcry from Labour MPs who were reassured by the Prime Minister just weeks ago.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said sarcastically: "Well fancy that! We never saw that coming."

But Mr Gove claimed there was no reason to fear - because the Queen's Speech this Thursday will include its own separate Bill safeguarding workers' rights.

(Image: REUTERS)

The Cabinet Office minister refused to say what those safeguards will actually be.

But he told LBC: "In the Queen's Speech on Thursday there will be a specific law which will safeguard workers’ rights.

"We want to have a straightforward approach to getting Brexit done, to getting that withdrawal agreement through.

"But we also will have legislation not just on workers' rights, but also on the environment in the Queen's Speech, in order to reassure people that their rights will be protected and enhanced as we leave the EU."

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Some 19 Labour MPs backed the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which puts the Brexit deal with the EU into law, in October after Boris Johnson vowed to add protections for workers' rights.

His government said that in future, ministers would make a statement explaining where any new laws could affect employment rights - and be forced to report regularly on plans to mirror new EU laws.

A government spokesman said at the time: "We will also consult on improving unfair dismissal protections, including reducing the qualifying period from two years to one year, and addressing any anomalies in the employee terms and conditions following a business takeover."

However, Downing Street has now 'hardened up' the Brexit Bill by trying to legally block any extension to the Brexit transition period beyond 31 December 2020.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said yesterday that the new-look Brexit Bill would "reflect the agreement made with the EU on our withdrawal."

But he refused to say whether it would include guarantees on workers' rights since that deal was struck.

"Wait for the Bill to be published later in the week," he told the Mirror.