Boris Johnson has called EU legal protections ‘mad’ and called for major regulatory divergence from the EU.

In a 14 February speech, the foreign secretary said: “It is only by taking back control of our laws that UK firms and entrepreneurs will have the freedom to innovate, without the risk of having to comply with some directive devised by Brussels, at the urgings of some lobby group, with the specific aim of holding back a UK competitor.” He added: “That would be intolerable, undemocratic, and would make it all but impossible for us to do serious free trade deals.”

TUC’s Frances O’Grady responded: “People have learned not to trust Boris Johnson. By calling agreements like the working time directive ‘intolerable’, he has fuelled fears that essential workplace rights will be lost after Brexit. When he says ‘regulatory divergence’ he means scrapping hard-won rights to paid holidays, equal pay and safety at work.” She added: “We need a Brexit that protects jobs and guarantees workers’ rights. All options must be kept on the negotiating table. But the best option we currently see to protect workers’ needs is through the single market and customs union.” Shadow Brexit secretary

Sir Keir Starmer said the foreign secretary’s speech had revealed the government’s intention to “casually cast aside” rights and protections when Britain leaves the European Union. Polling published by the thinktank IPPR on 20 February indicated strong support for maintaining EU rights, with a large majority of the public (73 per cent) were in favour of fully retaining the Working Time Directive. Tom Kibasi, the director of the IPPR, said: “Our research shows there is no appetite for deregulation post-Brexit. Regulatory divergence is both anti-worker and anti-business, so it should be no surprise that the public don’t want it.”