Andy Burnham slaps down Labour MPs who aren't putting salaries on their own job ads - despite the party's new policy forcing employers to do so

Published: 12:31 EDT, 6 November 2026 | Updated: 12:31 EDT, 6 November 2026 Andy Burnham has told Labour MPs they must comply with the government's latest policy forcing employers to list salaries on job adverts.The Prime Minister's new announcement was ridiculed today, as it emerged that over a dozen of Mr Burnham's own backbenchers are currently breaching the rule with their own job listings.Speaking to the BBC, Mr Burnham insisted that the new rule will 'apply completely' to MPs, as he called on employers to begin voluntarily complying with the new policy before it becomes law.He said: 'I would say it to everybody, MPs but also businesses, wider society.'The time has come, I think, to change recruitment.'It can be quite soul-destroying for young people these days, applying for jobs when the salary is not listed, but sometimes they're not getting a reply. It feels weighted against the applicant.'What we're trying to do here with this change in the law, 'say what you'll pay' law, is just tilting the scales back towards the applicant that little bit more.'According to the parliamentary jobs website, W4MPjobs.org, there are currently 13 jobs listed by Labour MPs that do not specify the position's salary. Andy Burnham insisted that Labour MPs should be following the government's new policy, suggesting the current refusal to specify salaries is unfair Mr Burnham was challenged over the 13 jobs currently advertised with Labour MPs that do not comply with the new policy, such as one with former cabinet minister Liz Kendall One Labour MP, Polly Billington, has three separate job listings that do not specify the salary on offer. These include a role as a parliamentary assistant for former Cabinet minister Liz Kendall, who only says that the job pays 'in line with [the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority]' salary bands.The worst offender is East Thanet MP Polly Billington, who is currently advertising three different roles without specifying pay.The new policy will see the government bring in a new legal requirement for companies 'as soon as possible', claiming it will help young people and women achieve more equal pay.But the Tories said Mr Burnham's latest small fix will make the lives of employers even more difficult.Shadow business secretary Julia Lopez said: 'At a time when employers are finding it harder and harder to take on staff, Labour have decided to make their lives even more difficult.'It should be up to businesses to decide what information they advertise about job openings, and to decide how to attract the best applicants. As long as they are not being dishonest, misleading or discriminatory, it should not be a matter for the Government.'Labour should focus on tackling the real causes of rising youth unemployment: their tax hikes and red tape, and their utter inability to cut the welfare bill.'Challenged over the Government's inability to tackle Britain's exploding welfare bill today, Mr Burnham argued that the Government's policy would see spending 'go up first' in order to bring in new support for young people to get them off benefits.He once again refused to commit to bringing down welfare spending during this parliament, insisting the bill must come down 'in a way that's sustainable'.