The Liberal Democrats have vowed to oppose any attempts to weaken workplace rights, health and safety standards and environmental protections as part of the government’s Repeal Bill.

The party is also calling for proper oversight and transparency over the Repeal Bill, after the government’s White Paper hinted at a power grab by ministers through the use of so-called Henry VIII powers.

Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake commented:

“Many Conservatives have made it clear they want to use Brexit to scrap our hard-won workplace rights and environmental standards.

“But protections for workers and our environment are not just red tape to be tossed on a bonfire.

“Nobody voted to diminish their rights, make themselves poorer or to make our country less safe.

“The Liberal Democrats will strongly oppose any weakening of existing standards and fight to ensure proper oversight and transparency.

“We cannot allow this minority Conservative government to use Henry VIII powers to steamroller the democratic process.”

Ministers are to consult on reforming the system of social care funding in England after Conservative plans were slammed as a Dementia Tax during the election.

Commenting, Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb said: “Social care is in a state of total crisis. A million older people are missing out on care they need and services face a funding black hole of billions in this year alone.

“In Coalition we commissioned the Dilnot report – an independent, expert led review of social care funding -yet the Conservatives have chosen to ignore the recommendations.

“Now they are simply kicking the issue into the long grass again with more consultation, after their deeply unfair Dementia Tax was clearly rejected by voters”.

The Trade Bill announced in the Queen’s speech is simply a job creation scheme for Liam Fox, the Liberal Democrats have said.

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson, said: “In reality this is an Anti-Trade Bill, as it means leaving the single market and customs union, despite clear opposition from the Chancellor and the Bank of England.

“It might give Liam Fox a job with plenty of air miles, but many workers will be worried that this bill will give them nothing but P45s.

“Leaving the single market and customs union would be catastrophic for the British economy, wrenching us out of the world’s biggest marketplace of over 500 million consumers. Our integrated European supply chains and international companies based here rely on free trade with Europe. Britain pushed to create this system to avoid exactly the regulatory nightmare we will now face.

“Every port will be clogged up with lorries arguing over export dockets, with companies less keen to include British goods in their supply chains, and a border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will further destabilise our union.

“Theresa May has no mandate to pursue this extreme Brexit, yet she is charging on with a package which will harm jobs, the economy and our country.”