Ministers resemble Dad’s Army farce, says TUC chief

GOVERNMENT MINISTERS have been accused of “Dad’s Army antics” over preparations for leaving the European Union.

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, yesterday mocked Ministers over Brexit and described a crucial meeting of the Cabinet at Chequers on Friday as a “body-bag summit”.

She told the policy conference of Unite in Brighton: “Michael Gove has already literally ripped up the Prime Minister’s customs proposal.

“David Davis has pushed a frankly bizarre proposal to establish a 20-mile so-called buffer zone along the border in Ireland, and Boris Johnson – Britain’s chief diplomat – has just told businesses to eff off.

“The way things are going, it’s looking increasingly likely that they will take his advice.

“All these Dad’s Army antics would be comical if it wasn’t for the serious fact that our members’ jobs and rights are on the line.”

She added: “If anyone thinks that the warnings from the likes of Airbus, BMW and Nissan are just more Project Fear, take a long, hard look at the investment figures. Investment in the car industry alone has been slashed by half and we know what that means for the future.”

Ms O’Grady said no union negotiator could get away with signing off a deal without taking it back to members and giving them a say first.

“I don’t see why the Prime Minister should,” she said.

“But if Parliament is denied a voice, then we are left with little choice about how we hold this Tory government to account.”