By Glen Owen Political Editor For The Mail On Sunday
Published: 00:12 GMT, 24 February 2019 | Updated: 00:12 GMT, 24 February 2019
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Theresa May is planning to ‘bribe’ Labour MPs to vote for her Brexit deal by passing new laws to improve the ‘work life balance’ of employees, including a guaranteed right to paid parental leave.
The move has caused anger in the Government, with one Minister protesting last night that it replicated ‘exactly the EU-style business-bashing from which we are trying to escape’.
With Mrs May facing ‘High Noon’ Brexit votes in the Commons on Wednesday, No 10 is pursuing a twin-track strategy – trying to get Labour MPs to support the Government with the promise of Left-wing policies, while also wooing Brexiteer Tory MPs by trying to negotiate reforms to the deal with Brussels.
With Theresa May facing ‘High Noon’ Brexit votes in the Commons on Wednesday, No 10 is pursuing a twin-track strategy
A leaked letter from Business Secretary Greg Clark to Mrs May reveals the Government has promised Labour it would legislate immediately for a new ‘work-life balance Bill’ which would give staff ‘a right to demand a series of fresh entitlements’, including ‘predictable and secure working conditions’.
In the letter, dated Thursday and seen by The Mail on Sunday, Mr Clark – who is one of the Cabinet’s most vocal Remainers – urges the Prime Minister to ‘demonstrate stronger action’ to meet Labour’s demands on workers’ rights to win their support for her deal.
He says that the Bill’s provisions should ‘include ten days of paternity leave, introduce an entitlement to pay for two months of parental leave and introduce carers’ leave
