THE TUC will reserve its decision on the EU referendum until after David Cameron’s negotiations.

A motion tabled by general union GMB calling for a No vote if Mr Cameron’s talks result in a further watering down of workplace protections was withdrawn before the vote yesterday, while shopworkers’ union Usdaw’s bid to stay in regardless was remitted.

In the debate, GMB general secretary Paul Kenny stormed: “Whatever the great vision of a democratic European Union was, what we have now is not it.

“The Prime Minister has been poncing around Europe seeking an agreement to cut the rights of working people in Britain.

“It is shameful that a British Prime Minister should be prostituting himself for the pimps at the CBI begging other European heads of government to make British workers the second-class citizens of the European world of work.”

He said that previous advocates of the EU were now at “the edge of fundamental change.

“The balance has gone, now a naked attempt by this government to remove fundamental rights will force us to ask ourselves a difficult for some question.

“We are giving a very clear warning and a simple but inescapable truth — be careful what you wish for. It’s a very big mistake to take the TUC or any affiliate here for granted.

“Let’s send a clear message — we will not be complicit in cutting worker’s rights in the UK.”

But Usdaw general secretary John Hannett spoke in favour of staying in.

“Many of the protections against discrimination [at work] all flow from staying in,” he claimed.

And Royal College of Midwives delegate Suzanne Tyler insisted: “We benefit hugely from partnership working across Europe.”

The statement endorsed by delegates said the TUC would “continue to campaign and lobby against the government’s attempts to further water down social Europe” in the run-up to the referendum.

It said the votes of trade unionists could not “be taken for granted.”

But RMT delegate Chris Davidson asked: “Can someone please tell me why we would want to be part of an organisation that says you have to privatise your public services?”