A SENIOR figure in the Labour Party has called on Swindon to introduce the living wage for all of its employees.

Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Work And Pensions Secretary, was in Swindon on Monday visiting Nationwide, which was one of the first companies to introduce the practice.

While there she said Government and local authorities needed to set an example to other firms by introducing the living wage, which is currently £7.85.

Council chiefs have said it is something they consider every year but financial pressures mean it is not possible for introduce the living wage for the 250 workers currently below the threshold.

But the Leeds West MP said the wage was about giving people dignity.

She said: “We want to make sure the government and local authorities lead the way on living wage.

“We do have some local authorities who have signed up. I’d like to know how many of the councillors and senior people at Swindon could live on £6.50 an hour. It’s really tough.

“If you want to show you respect your staff you should treat them with dignity and pay them a wage they can afford to live on.

“The reality is if people aren’t paid enough to live on then they end up relying on tax credits so the taxpayer ends up subsidising low pay.”

She was in Swindon with the Parliamentary candidate for South Swindon, Anne Snel-grove, who said: “I think we should use companies like Nationwide to provide an example to Swindon Council.

“I do appreciate local authorities have faced swingeing cuts from central government and it is difficult but on the other hand Swindon is an expensive place to live if you are not earning the living wage.”

Council leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) said while it was not possible to introduce the minimum wage, steps had been taken to remove the lower pay bands.

He said: “Clearly the people at the bottom of the pay-scale work just as hard and we want to remunerate them as best we can.

“There are a number of challenges though.

“To introduce the living wage would cost us £135,000 a year. With limited funds we would have to consider priorities.”