One of the reasons I became an MP was to fight for the rights of working people. The Tories have never liked giving people better working conditions and that is why they have opposed almost every improvement in the workplace that Labour have introduced since 1997. Better workplace conditions for employees invariably means cuts into company profits and in turn to dividends in the city and ultimately top bankers bonuses. The key rights the Labour Government has delivered to enable a fair deal at work include the minimum wage, the right to paid holidays and statutory maternity and sick pay. All of these improvements were opposed by the Tories and shows the difference a Labour Government makes for hard-working people.

Earlier this year the Government introduced three new rights which came into effect last April. Statutory holiday entitlement increased to 28 days for full-time workers, pro rata for part-timers, and the right to request flexible working was extended to parents of children under the age of 16 benefiting thousands of people in South Tyneside. In addition our Employment Act means there will now be unlimited fines for the most serious instances of employers flouting these new rules.

Every worker should earn a fair wage for a fair day's work - there is no excuse not to pay up. I remember we had to fight tooth and nail in Parliament to introduce the National Minimum Wage. When I speak to some young people they can’t believe that under the Tories it was legal to pay workers less than a quid an hour! The Minimum Wage isn't great, and I think it should be increased, but the right to £5.73 an hour is a lot better than what went on in the past under the Tories. And our Prime Minister gave a commitment last week at Conference that it will increase year on year as long as Labour is in power.

That is why I supported and voted for the Employment Act because I wanted to see tougher action on those minority of rogue employers who con their staff. All these rights demonstrate the series of achievements that Labour has delivered to the modern workplace. These measures are not happening by accident. These are rights which would never have been introduced by a Conservative Government and shows the difference a Labour Government makes for hard-working people.