A number of worried constituents have contacted me about “fire and rehire” at British Gas. British Gas have been dismissing workers in order to re-employ them on inferior pay and worse terms and conditions.

I will always stand up for workers’ rights so today I’ve signed a letter asking Centrica CEO Chris O’Shea to stop his fire and rehire plan, get back to negotiations with @GMB_Union and reach an agreement all sides can accept.

I believe that the use of this tactic in employment negotiations is wrong and should be outlawed. Using the threat of unemployment to reduce pay and diminish terms and conditions is against British values, undermines good employers, harms working people and damages our economy.

No employer should treat their staff in this way, and I am saddened to see this tactic from a longstanding British company.

After a decade of pay restraint and in the middle of a deep recession, this is the last thing working people, the employees who have kept those companies and our country going, need. I believe the Government must step in and end the ability of companies to use the threat of fire and rehire. Legislation in this area is vital to give workers the security they need.