Rightwingers' attacks on the EU are a smokescreen for their bid to take rights away from workers, Labour European parliament leader Glenis Willmott told CWU delegates yesterday.

She claimed paid holidays and agency workers’ rights had emanated from Europe.

“David Cameron has said he doesn’t agree that social and employment relations should be dealt with at European level,” she said.

“When Tories speak about repatriating powers, they mean taking away worker’s rights from you and your members. We need to tell people that repatriating powers is an excuse for cutting worker’s rights.”

And Ms Willmott attacked former stockbroker and Ukip leader Nigel Farage for representing exactly the same class as the those that caused the financial crisis in the first place.

She said Ukip policies like a flat tax rate, selling off the NHS and leaving the EU would hit working people hardest.

But Ms Willmott said the EU wasn’t all about big business and that there should be a refocus on a pro-worker agenda.

“It is time we did something about the abuse of zero-hours contracts,” she added.