THE European Union (EU) would resemble a “sweatshop” if the Tories succeed in using “reform” to remove workers’ rights, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady will say today.

Ms O’Grady sets out the nightmare vision in a speech this evening as Prime Minister David Cameron attempts to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s EU membership ahead of a referendum.

She will warn that business leaders are lobbying for reforms to include the scrapping of rights for agency workers and the working-time directive, along with a moratorium on any new protections.