Work should pay but for too many people it doesn’t. Under the Tories, pay packets have been squeezed for more than a decade – all as bosses’ bonuses and shareholder pay-outs soar.   Even before this cost-of-living crisis, too many workers were relying on food banks to survive or falling into debt because no matter how hard they worked, their wage simply wasn’t keeping pace.

Facing such an attack, it’s no surprise that workers are going on strike to secure better pay and conditions on such a large scale this summer.  I’m a proud trade unionist and unequivocally support workers’ right to strike, but they shouldn’t have to.  Labour’s New Deal for Working People would raise pay and improve conditions for all and, instead of the Tories fake living wage, a Labour Government would guarantee a genuine living wage for every adult worker.  As a Council Leader, I introduced and led the country’s first living wage local authority, and I know the difference it makes to people’s lives.

I regularly meet with local trade union reps and workers to listen to their concerns, and I’ll always use the platform which Parliament provides me to stand up for workers and make the case for fairer workplace practices.