I was wrong about family firm not paying living wage – Sarwar

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says he was wrong when he told the BBC his family’s business did not pay its workers the real living wage.

Mr Sarwar – whose party is promising a new deal for workers – was accused of hypocrisy by political opponents after an interview on The Sunday Show.

But a trade union representing staff at United Wholesale confirmed the firm’s workers are paid above the real living wage.

Mr Sarwar said: “I gave what I thought to be a correct answer, it has proven not to be the case.”

The Glasgow MSP relinquished shares in United Wholesale, which was originally set up by his father and is run by other family members.

At an election campaign event, he told BBC Scotland News: “I made clear I have no involvement in this business.

“I have no shares in this business and actually the evidence has shown I don’t have the information on this business.”

In a statement on Sunday night, the Usdaw union said recent pay negotiations meant all staff received an income higher than the real living wage.