THE Tories are “deliberately keeping people in the dark” about the true impact of a no-deal Brexit, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady warned today.

Speaking at the People’s Assembly Shut Down The Tories rally in Manchester, Ms O’Grady warned of the damage no-deal would inflict on public services and communities.

Her comments came as the TUC published a new report setting out the cost that crashing out of the EU would have on jobs, rights and livelihoods.

She said: “This government is deliberately keeping people in the dark about the true impact of no-deal.

“The fallout would be felt for generations to come — hitting our jobs, livelihoods and rights at work. And putting at risk peace in Northern Ireland.

“A no-deal is not a clean break. It will jam the gears of government for years.

“And it would stop us rebuilding our public services and communities and repairing the damage austerity has caused.”

The TUC study finds that the immediate cost to the public finances of a no-deal Brexit could be up to £90 billion, with the loss of up to 482,000 jobs and up to a 10 per cent fall in wages.

Ms O’Grady added: “For Johnson and his hard-right supporters Brexit isn’t just about leaving the EU.

“It’s about attacking our rights, slashing taxes for big corporations and privatising our services.

“And, yes, flogging off our NHS to President Trump and his mates in big pharma. Holding the NHS to ransom over the price it pays for life-saving drugs.”