Tories hit back on rural poverty as Corbyn calls for return of wage board

A MINISTER has criticised Labour’s record on rural affairs after Jeremy Corbyn said he would reinstate a body which sets the wages of agricultural workers if elected to government.

Mr Corbyn told the annual Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival that he wants to reverse a decision taken in 2013 to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board.

A reinstated board would ensure that rural workers in England were entitled to minimum rates of pay which may be higher than the national minimum wage, paid holiday, sick pay and rest breaks, Labour believes.

Mr Corbyn said: “Almost 200 years after the Tolpuddle Martyrs bravely stood against the exploitation of employers paying poverty wages, Labour is committed to reintroducing the Agricultural Wages Board and increasing pay and fundamental rights for all agricultural workers.

“This decision will bring back millions of pounds to workers across the English countryside, in addition to guaranteed paid holiday, sick pay and rest breaks.

“Rural workers have been consistently ignored by the Tories.”

Responding to the announcement, Agriculture Minister George Eustice said: “The Agricultural Wages Board became redundant after this Conservative Government increased the minimum wage and then introduced the new National Living Wage.

“Labour have never supported the rural economy and their policies would threaten jobs in rural areas.”