Employers

Debate between Jeevun Sandher and Paul Holmes

Wednesday 11th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dr Jeevun Sandher (Loughborough) (Lab)]

I want to start a bit differently today, if I may. My parents were employers; they were business people. They employed me in what was probably my first job. As the son of immigrants, I did not get a choice as to whether I took up that employment. I am not quite sure if I was paid the minimum wage, but working taught me something. It taught me what it meant to earn money; it taught me the pride in work; and it taught me what I got at the end of it. I will never forget working for a week, and then buying a turquoise iPod Mini. I loved that iPod, partly because I was really hip and cool, of course—

[Paul Holmes]

You still are!

[Dr Sandher]

Stop it! The hon. Member is too kind.

I had a sense of pride, because I knew that I had earned that iPod; it was the fruits of my labour. When I was growing up in the ’90s and ’00s, I saw business people doing well, partly because we were growing under a Labour Government, but also because the conditions of business worked. My parents knew that their workers had skills and were healthy, and they also knew that workers and families across the country were living good lives at that point in time. They could afford a decent life, and to spend money down the shops and on the goods that my parents were producing and selling. I saw them do well, and I saw business do well. Part of the reason why I became a member of the Labour party is that I want to see every single person do well and thrive. I saw businesses thrive, and I saw my parents’ business thrive.

I also joined the Labour party because we are the party of work—the clue is in the name. I want every single person in this country to have a good job, but we are quite far away from that, and we have been for quite a while. About 40% of people in full-time work cannot afford to raise a family, because there are not enough good jobs in this country. Post-industrial areas are still post-industrial, and they are the most deprived parts of this nation. They have not been doing well for an incredibly long time. We have to do more to create good jobs across our country.