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PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nA trade union representing workers at a business run by relatives of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said they are paid above the real living wage. <\/p>\n Mr Sarwar – whose party is promising a new deal for workers – was earlier accused of hypocrisy by political opponents after telling the BBC not all employees at United Wholesale currently received the rate. <\/p>\n But in a statement issued late on Sunday the Usdaw union said recent pay negotiations meant all staff now received an income higher than the living wage. <\/p>\n Anas Sarwar has no direct involvement and has relinquished shares in United Wholesale which his father originally set up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The political row followed an interview on the BBC’s Sunday Show in which Mr Sarwar set out Labour plans for new minimum pay rates linked to the cost of living. <\/p>\n The real living wage hourly rate advocated by the Living Wage Foundation is currently set at \u00a312 across the country and \u00a313.15 in London.<\/p>\n That is 56p more than the current national minimum wage \u2013 introduced by Labour as part of their 1997 election manifesto.<\/p>\n When asked if the wholesale business run by members of his family currently paid the real living wage, he replied: \u201cI don\u2019t believe that every single staff member is on the real living wage.<\/p>\n “But I know there have been significant increases in the wage after negotiations with Usdaw, their trade union.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery business, including that one, will have to comply with the new deal for working people which will deliver a genuine living wage right across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Political opponents quickly responded to his comments. <\/p>\n The SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said it was an “astonishing revelation” and accused him of hypocrisy. <\/p>\n Scottish Conservative deputy leader Craig Hoy said it was “humiliating” for Mr Sarwar, and it left him “open to the charge of hypocrisy”. <\/p>\n But late on Sunday evening an Usdaw spokesman issued a clarification, saying: \u201cUsdaw has a trade union recognition agreement with United Wholesale Scotland and we negotiate on pay with the company.<\/p>\n \u201cIn our last negotiation we agreed a pay deal that delivered an income higher than the real living wage for all employees.\u201d<\/p>\n The spokesman went on to say: \u201cWe would urge political parties to get their own house in order.\u201d<\/p>\n Labour sources said that as negotiations are between Usdaw and United Wholesale, Mr Sarwar had not been aware of the terms of any agreement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n