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The trade union movement is set to throw its weight behind a public vote on the final Brexit deal.

The head of the TUC has warned that Britain was in “crisis” with no confidence in the government’s ability to protect jobs, workers’ rights or peace in Northern Ireland.

General secretary Frances O’Grady accused Theresa May of “holding the country to ransom” over her approach to a Brexit agreement.

Speaking at the TUC Congress in Manchester: “I want to give the Prime Minister fair warning.

“I am serving notice that if her deal doesn’t deliver justice for working people, if it doesn’t protect jobs, rights at work and peace in Northern Ireland then the TUC will throw our weight behind the call for a vote on the terms of Brexit.”

Ms O’Grady said unions went back to their members to approve deals, adding: “Whether it’s through a general election or a popular vote, Mrs May should take her deal on the terms of Brexit and put it back to the people.”

Ms O’Grady said it was “more than disappointing” the Prime Minister had not consulted union leaders including herself on the impact on workers on any Brexit deal.

(Image: Steve Bainbridge/Sunday People)

“The only advice for workers is how to stock up their freezers.”

Ms O’Grady accused the Prime Minister of letting Conservative party politics take priority over the interests of workers.

The TUC wants the Brexit timetable to be extended as an insurance policy against the risk if “crashing out” of the EU, she added.

Mick Cash, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, spoke out against another vote.

“Trade unionists voted in droves to leave the EU because they are sick of austerity, the race to the bottom on jobs and pay and the privatisation of services like the railways which is all wrapped up in EU diktat.

“The problem we have now is that the terms of Britain’s withdrawal are being negotiated by a useless and divided Tory government that is a global laughing stock.

(Image: PA)

“The only vote now that matters is a general election and the sooner the better. The talk of a second vote on the withdrawal terms is a de facto second referendum whichever way you try to dress it up and risks becoming a trojan horse for civil unrest on our streets.”

Brexit will be debated at the TUC conference on Monday when the general council will issue a statement demanding a general election if the withdrawal agreement is bad for jobs and workers’ rights.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn has been urged to throw his weight behind a second Brexit referendum, to unite the Labour movement and prevent an “economic catastrophe”.

Senior Labour MP David Lammy said there was growing momentum for a so-called People’s Vote on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.

He said the party leadership will come under “tremendous” pressure at the party’s conference later this month to back a second vote.

Tottenham MP Mr Lammy said he believed that despite the clock ticking on Brexit - with just 200 days until the UK’s exit from the EU - there was both the parliamentary time and cross-party support available to secure a fresh referendum.