MP Chris Hinchliff backs better pay for 1,541 school support staff in his North East Herts constituency

North East Herts MP Chris Hinchliff has championed better pay and conditions for school support staff.

He backed the Government’s Employment Rights Bill, saying it would benefit 1,541 school staff in his constituency who had been saddled with low wages and poor working conditions for years.

The Labour politician, whose constituency includes the A120 villages of Little Hadham, Braughing, Standon and Puckeridge, said: “To give children in North East Hertfordshire the education they deserve, we need skilled assistants in classrooms, dedicated caretakers keeping schools safe and all support staff ensuring schools run smoothly.

“You can’t provide a quality education on the cheap – it’s outrageous that the Conservatives allowed school standards to slip while support workers were underpaid and undervalued.”

He said Labour’s legislation would bring back the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, giving workers a real say in their pay and working conditions.

Under the last Government, the Low Pay Commission officially classified teaching assistants as “low-paid”.

Mr Hinchliff said increasing salaries would help tackle staff shortages and ensure dedicated school workers did not leave the profession.

He said: “I am proud to support this legislation and it is shocking that the Conservatives and Reform UK are opposing Labour’s Employment Rights Bill, rejecting crucial policies like fair pay for school staff, banning fire and rehire, raising the minimum wage and ending exploitative zero-hours contracts.”

Stacey Booth, GMB national officer, said: “For 14 long years successive Conservative Governments did nothing to improve standards for school support staff, leaving them on the Low Pay Commission’s list of poorly paid roles. Finally, they are getting recognition for their vital work.”