'Brexit must not be an excuse' to cut jobs, warn unions

Many trade unionists fear that workers' rights will be sacrificed as the UK prepare to leave the EU

Firms must not use the UK's vote for an exit from the European Union as an excuse to cut jobs and spending, trade union bodies have warned.

Unite said it was "not prepared to see Brexit used as a smokescreen" for firms to cut their investments in the UK.

"Out of the EU must not mean out of work," Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said at the TUC Congress.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said she was also worried workers' rights might be eroded by the EU vote.

"We've had the votes, the vote was close but clear and now our job is to get on with representing working people, whichever way they cast their vote, and make sure that they don't pay the price of a Brexit," she said.

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Mr McCluskey called on unions to "pick up the pieces" following the referendum result to protect workers' rights.

The annual trades union conference is the first to be held since the EU referendum vote.

When Theresa May took office she promised to give people who were "working around the clock" more control over their lives

Ahead of the conference, which started on Sunday, Ms O'Grady had urged the government to encourage private sector spending amid the uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote.

According to the TUC's report, private investment in the UK was 13.7% of GDP (economic output), compared with the OECD average of 17.6%.

It argued that, in the wake of the EU vote, it was more urgent that this "investment gap" should be closed.