Labour pledges 32 hour working week with no loss of pay

Labour’s shadow chancellor has pledged to cut Britain’s working week to 32 hours in the “next decade” with no loss of pay under a Labour government.

Speaking at the Party conference in Brighton, McDonnell said union and employers can “decide together how best to reduce hours for their sector.”

Adding, “We won’t build that world overnight. And let nobody tell you it will be easy, or that we won’t face enormous resistance. But I believe our time is coming.”

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director general warned this could harm “the very people they are trying to help” urging the party to “root its policies in reality, not ideology.”

Fairbairn added, “A growing economy built on fairness can only be delivered if business and government work together.

“Yet here was a speech from the shadow chancellor with no mention of the huge contribution business makes, its importance to jobs, investment and prosperity.

“Only through partnership can a net-zero economy be achieved, wages increased, and new technologies harnessed to the benefit of all.”