Greens select Sedgeley as 10:1 outside candidate for Greenwich and Lewisham

The Green Party has selected Roger Sedgley as its candidate for Greenwich & Lewisham in the London Assembly elections next May. Announcing the decision, they put their 10:1 campaign (which seeks to limit the pay differential between the highest and lowest paid London government employees) front and centre. 

The Greens unveil their 10:1 campaign

Sedgley said:

"The very simple idea behind the 10:1 campaign is a way to help to narrow the huge gulf in London between those who have, and those who are less fortunate.

"Islington Council has already committed to it - its Chief Executive Lesley Seary earns no more than 10 times what Islington's lowest-paid worker takes home. I want employers across London to follow Islington Council's example.

"Green councillors in Lewisham successfully fought for a policy where all Lewisham Council workers and workers on outsourced contracts are paid at least the London Living Wage of £8.30 an hour. Greens will fight to put more money in the pockets of ordinary hardworking Londoners."

The campaign is an interesting one, although in effect, what it does is to cap public sector salaries at around £150,000. To put that in perspective, a study last year showed that 14 Lewisham Council (which wouldn't be included in the measures) employees earned more than £100,000 a year, while a 2011 report showed that 379 TfL employees earned over £100,000.