Sarwar’s family firm don’t pay living wage
Labour contender quizzed over business’s policy
SCOTTISH Labour leadership hopeful Anas Sarwar yesterday claimed his family firm pays less than the ‘living wage’ because it is not yet mandatory.
He faced intense questioning about his shareholdings in his family’s cash and carry business during a car-crash interview.
The Glasgow MSP complained about the focus on his background rather than policy issues after being pressed on his wealth, his children attending private school, his firm’s failure to recognise unions and its pay policy.
He suffered a further blow yesterday when two of the most influential trade unions – Unite and Aslef – both backed his rival Richard Leonard, saying he can bring about ‘socialist change’.
It comes after Mr Leonard told Unite he would support hard Left policies such as rent controls on private landlords and the renationalisation of Scotland’s railways and Royal Mail.
Both candidates were interviewed on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio show.
Presenter Gary Robertson said: ‘Isn’t your big problem personally when it comes to all this talk of “for the many not the few” that you are one of the few?’ Mr Sarwar said: ‘No. The reason I am in the Labour Party is because Scotland has given my family its success.’
Pressed on the fact he has shares in his family firm, United (Wholesale) Scotland, worth £4.8million and that he sends his children to a private school, he said: ‘I am in the Labour Party because I don’t choose to opt out of politics, I choose to fight for equality and fight for opportunity.’
He also responded to criticism of his family firm for paying less than the so-called ‘living wage’ of £8.45 an hour by saying it is ‘voluntary’. He said: ‘I don’t support a voluntary living wage but a mandatory real living wage. I don’t think it is right that the market dictates what a fair day’s pay is. That is why I want it to be a compulsory policy.’
Asked by Mr Robertson why he doesn’t start with his own company, he said: ‘The reason is because it is a voluntary scheme; I want it to be a mandatory scheme.
‘I am a minority shareholder. I have no role in the company, I have no say in how the company operates but I have heard assurances that they do want to transition to a real living wage for all employees.’
Repeatedly questioned on his shareholding, he insisted he does not take any remuneration.
Asked about sending his children to private school, he said: ‘Again, Gary, I would rather you focused on the policy.’
He said he was sure people would respect the decision that he and his wife had made to educate their children privately at Glasgow’s Hutchesons’ Grammar, which has annual fees of £10,000 per pupil. He added: ‘The fact is too many of our schools aren’t good enough in Scotland.’
Despite the row over Mr Sarwar’s business and family matters dominating the leadership campaign, those attending the first major hustings event last night in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall were banned from asking questions about it.
Yesterday, the Unite union – Labour’s biggest paymaster, headed by Len McCluskey – confirmed its Scottish executive committee had agreed to back Mr Leonard. Its Scottish Secretary Pat Rafferty said: ‘Richard Leonard is the candidate to deliver socialist change.’
At last night’s event, Mr Leonard made a coded attack on former leader Kezia Dugdale, Mr Sarwar and moderates who tried to oust Jeremy Corbyn. He said: ‘Last year, some people thought of causing a split inside the Labour Party. I don’t know which planet they are on.’
‘I want it to be compulsory’