Labour gives staff 10.5% rise as donations surge

LABOUR Party staff are set for a 10.5 per cent cost-ofliving pay rise this year.

The bumper increases have been agreed following a surge in donations and an extra £700,000 from taxpayers under political funding rules.

The package for employees includes a commitment to another rise of at least 5 per cent next year, as well as maintaining a defined benefit pension scheme.

This year’s pay deal is far above what most private sector workers have been given and double the offers made to employees in the public sector.

Labour was given £ .7million in July to September, up from £3.8million in April to June, according to the Electoral Commission. The donations included £1.6million from trade unions.

A Labour spokesman said the party had ‘returned to a strong financial footing, with growing commercial income and donations’.

The GMB union said the pay agreement recognised the value of the workforce.