SNP MP Graham Leadbitter has led the calls for the Chancellor to introduce the Real Living Wage.
The Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP urged Reeves to live up to Labour’s manifesto commitment to introduce the Real Living Wage of £12.60 an hour to all workers, regardless of age.
Despite promising it prior to the election, the Labour government has so far failed to deliver a proper pay rise to workers.
The introduction of the Real Living Wage is supported by the SNP Scottish Government but the powers to introduce it lie with Westminster.
The Real Living Wage is calculated independently by the Living Wage Foundation and is assessed every year to account for the rising cost of living.
Commenting, Graham Leadbitter MP said:
“Labour’s own manifesto committed to delivering the Real Living Wage.
“Here’s their chance, they should put their money where their mouth is and finally deliver it.
“Workers have been waiting years for a government to finally act to ensure they can earn a wage they can live on, only to be left disappointed again by Rachel Reeves who promised the world but delivered nothing in her last budget.
“In failing to live up to their own promises Labour have forced millions of workers to continue to endure low-pay, and have allowed the age discrimination they vowed to end to continue unchecked.
“And to add insult to injury, Labour have insisted on continuing to call the minimum wage a Living Wage, when it’s anything but.
“It’s a cynical attempt at celebrating their mediocrity, and is the kind of Tory half-truth we saw the last government peddle.
“Labour politicians, especially Scottish ones, should be ashamed of this UK government’s failure so far and should be front and centre of the calls for Reeves to finally do the decent thing now in offering up the Real Living Wage of £12.60 an hour to all workers, no matter their age.
“If they won’t, they should devolve the necessary powers to the Scottish Parliament where the SNP Scottish Government can, and will, legislate to make work pay.”
