Jeremy Corbyn joins protest over Premier League pay ahead Arsenal vs Tottenham clash

Jeremy Corbyn joined a protest calling on Premier League clubs to pay workers the London Living Wage ahead of Sunday’s North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham.

A group, including the Labour leader and mayoral hopeful Sadiq Khan, gathered outside the Emirates Stadium to call for all of the capital’s top flight sides to commit to paying the £9.40 per hour voluntary rate that is required to live comfortably in the capital.

Chelsea is currently the only Premier League club accredited by the Living Wage Foundation.

Corbyn, who has voted in favour of several early day motions on his favourite side Arsenal, told the protestors that he wanted to see Arsenal set an example as their local council, Islington, was the first to pay the Living Wage to all of its staff.

He said: "It is about social justice, it is about young people being properly treated, and it is about the example that big clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham, Crystal Palace and so on can set to everyone else in London.

"We think, by the way, the players already get the Living Wage."

The Labour leader added that he was “almost there” with the north London side, who drew 1-1 with Tottenham at the game.

In a statement Arsenal said: We pay all our people good rates which are above the London Living Wage. This includes permanent and fixed-term employees and workers. As an example, match day stewards are paid £9.50 an hour.

"This means that rates for all our employees already exceed the Government's 2020 National Living Wage target. It also goes beyond the Premier League's recent resolution, which we fully supported. "

The club has now shifted its focus on to contractors, adding: "Our recent maintenance contract with CBRE, for example, contains an undertaking by CBRE that their employees are paid at least the London Living Wage.

"Pay conditions will form a part of the discussion when our cleaning contract comes up for renewal and are included in ongoing discussions with our caterers."

Sadiq Khan, the Labour candidate for London Mayor, called on all the clubs to set an example. He said: "Imagine the message we could send if Arsenal, and other Premier League clubs in London, pay the London Living Wage."