EDM 1894 was tabled on 3rd December 2018.  It states: “That this House calls on the Government to increase the hourly minimum wage for all hours work on Easter Sunday and Christmas day to twice that of the statutory minimum.”

I completely agree with this call, and know my constituents will too.  Austerity Britain has created a staggering number of working families living in poverty, and seasonal jobs provide a hugely important opportunity for many people to make Christmas special for their families.

As it stands, whilst some companies will pay higher wages on Bank Holidays, there is no legal requirement for them to do so.  This is unacceptable and needs to be redressed urgently to ensure that those who must sacrifice family and leisure time to earn more money are recognised and properly rewarded.  Working on Bank Holidays often is not a choice but a necessity, and although it should not have to be the case, for many it is.  It is vitally important that employees are remunerated to reflect this commitment.