While the general election result left the Prime Minister significantly weakened, publically the government has stuck to its Brexit negotiating red lines set out in her Lancaster House speech. As the clock ticks on talks, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady argues that it’s time for the government to level with the British public on the realistic trades and compromises that will be needed to reach a new deal with the EU.

The TUC is lobbying hard on both sides of the table for a Brexit deal that prioritises jobs, investment, living standards, rights and public services. With the rate of net migration falling but no sign of a wages recovery and growing public alarm about spreading insecurity at work, the government should rethink its negotiating strategy and style. A Brexit deal that’s best for workers will be best for Britain too.

This lecture is part of the LSE Programme on Brexit.

Frances O’Grady (@FrancesOGrady) is the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) since 2013. She has been an active trade unionist and campaigner all her working life. She has been employed in a range of jobs from shop work to the voluntary sector.

Tony Travers is Director of LSE London, a research centre at LSE. He is also a Visiting Professor in the LSE’s Government Department. 

The LSE European Institute (@LSEEI) is a centre for research and graduate teaching on the processes of integration and fragmentation within Europe. In the most recent national Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) the Institute was ranked first for research in its sector.

The Institute of Public Affairs (@LSEPubAffairs) is one of the world's leading centres of public policy. We aim to debate and address some of the major issues of our time, whether international or national, through our established teaching programmes, our research and our highly innovative public-engagement initiatives.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEBrexit

Podcast

A podcast of this event is available to download from No More Cake and Eat it: making a Brexit deal for workers.

Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.

Transcript

A transcript of Frances O’Grady's lecture can be downloaded:

No More Cake and Eat it: making a Brexit deal for workers (pdf)