Workers on zero hours contracts set up for Labour speech attacking zero hours contracts

Ed Balls and Jim Murphy railed against “exploitative zero hours contracts” in a venue where staff were employed without the guarantee of regular hours.

Standing in front of a placard highlighting one of the party’s flagship policies the shadow chancellor and Labour’s Scottish leader were questioned over hypocrisy with two technicians at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, where he made his speech, signed up for the arrangement.

Mr Balls replied: “I’m saying that if we have a Labour government, we’re going to say that after 12 weeks, if you’re working regular hours, you’re going to get a proper contract and that’s what we’re going to do.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council, which employs the workers through an “arm’s length” organisation, said its arrangements were not “exploitative” and were only used “where there is no other practical way to employ people” with defined hours contracts offered to staff working regularly.