Everybody deserves a fair wage for a hard day’s work, yet too many Government Departments still think it’s acceptable not to pay their cleaners a living wage.  Since I was first elected I’ve been using Parliamentary Questions to challenge this injustice and on Boris Johnson’s first day as PM I got him to agree that all Government departments should pay the living wage.

Unfortunately experience shows that Boris Johnson’s word doesn’t count for much so I’ll keep pushing to make that pledge a reality.

I asked Boris during Prime Minister Questions for his assurance that every single entry-level cleaner in Whitehall would be paid the real Living Wage rate. (Currently £10.55 an hour).

Boris Johnson replied to Catherine West’s question with:

“I have to say – the answer is yes. I was very proud that when I was running London we massively expanded the Living Wage, and we made sure that it was paid not just by the GLA bodies, but by their contractors as well. And that is what we should be doing”

Katherine Chapman Director of the Living Wage Foundation said: 

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to pay government department cleaners a Living Wage, this would make a huge difference to workers and their families. We’d be delighted to discuss how government departments can now become Living Wage accredited to ensure all workers are paid a real Living Wage that provides dignity and security.”