Boris Johnson’s new Brexit chief wants to scrap Theresa May’s commitment to protect British workers’ rights, and has suggested Brexit is an opportunity to escape the EU’s “heavy labour market regulation.”

Just two months ago David Frost said he was opposed to the approach advocated “by the leaders of both major political parties” and argued that EU rights should not automatically be written into law after Brexit.

The former chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry was appointed last week by the prime minister to replace Olly Robbins as Downing Street’s EU chief, a role that will see him leading any future talks with Brussels. “Business organisations have often in the past criticised the EU’s drift towards heavy labour market regulation,” Frost said in a 16 May 2019 opinion piece reproduced on the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry website. “So I will take some persuading it will be a good outcome if the EU is able to set new UK labour market rules without any UK say – as currently seems to be envisaged by the leaders of both major political parties.”

Responding, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady told The Independent newspaper: “Boris Johnson claims that he intends to enhance rights at work after Brexit. He and his advisers should be focused on delivering that promise. But instead they’re threatening a catastrophic no deal, which would strip away existing legal protections and leave essential rights open to attack]. Working people must not be dragged off this cliff edge without getting a Final Say.” In the Commons last week, Boris Johnson told MPs that workers’ rights would “not only” be protected after Brexit but that with “the freedoms that we will obtain” the UK would “where necessary be able to enhance” protections. EU rules set a minimum standard, however, and the UK has always been free to improve on them.