Boris Johnson's new Brexit chief was against key policy to help workers' rights

Boris Johnson’s top Brexit official indicated he was against a key commitment on workers’ rights after we leave the EU.

David Frost said he would “take some persuading” it was a good idea for the UK to continue adopting EU laws that help staff.

And he complained the EU had been criticised for a “drift towards heavy labour market regulation”.

Mr Frost made the comments in May, just two months before he was appointed the Prime Minister’s “sherpa” last week.

The 54-year-old diplomat will replace Olly Robbins as the government’s top negotiator with Brussels who is not also an elected politician.

The former chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association and London Chamber of Commerce and Industry made the comments in a blog post in May.

At the time Theresa May was mulling bowing to Labour’s call for “dynamic alignment” with EU laws on workers’ rights.

Such alignment would have seen Britain taking on new EU laws even after Brexit was complete.

In a final offer before she resigned Mrs May pledged: “The rights enjoyed by British workers can be no less favourable than those of their counterparts in the EU – both now and in the future.”

But Mr Frost wrote: “Business organisations have often in the past criticised the EU’s drift towards heavy labour market regulation.

“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.”

He added: “It is not self-evidently good for London’s businesses if, after Brexit, important decisions affecting our operating conditions are taken outside the country without any UK say.”

As well as working in private sector Mr Frost is an experienced diplomat. He was Britain’s Ambassador to Denmark from 2006 to 2008, before becoming Boris Johnson’s Special Advisor from 2016 to 2018.

However, his comments raised alarm with a union chief after Mr Johnson brought hard-right Tories into the top level of his Cabinet.

Mr Johnson has chosen as his deputy Dominic Raab , who in 2011 proposed scrapping the minimum wage for under-21s and abolishing the EU’s working time directive.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady told The Independent: “ 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.”

Downing Street did not return a request for comment by the Mirror this morning. But a UK government spokesman told the Independent: “The UK has a world-leading record in protecting workers’ rights, setting the highest standard, and a labour market we can be proud of, with more people in work than ever before.

“We are determined to maintain this record of leadership after we leave the EU, with or without a deal.”