The new MP, who served as a trade union officer for Unison prior to his election on July 4, said he was proud of his previous work, which he said contributed to measures unveiled in the new Employment Rights Bill – including plans to ban exploitative zero-hours contracts and end the practice of “fire and rehire” – which was part of the package of legislation announced in the King’s Speech.
He told MPs, “In places like my community where people work hard, all too often, pay isn’t what it should be,” and that the new legislation “will change lives.”
He added, “Work is key to the people of Gateshead and Wickham, we are working people, never shy of work, proud of what we do for work, but all too often in search of skilled work and better pay and too often forced to live in poverty.”
