Alan said ‘On International Women’s Day it’s worth remembering that nearly 50 years after Labour introduced the Equal Pay Act women are still paid on average over 14 per cent less than men.

It’s time to close the gender pay gap once and for all. But to address these deep rooted inequalities, we need action, not just audits.

The next Labour government will require all large employers to prove how they plan to tackle their gender pay gaps and prove they are equal pay employers.

Labour will make it a priority to close the gender pay gap and tackle the structural barriers facing women across our society, creating a country that truly works for the many, not the few.’