TRADE unionists’ hopes were dashed yesterday as the SNP ignored calls to enforce a living wage for tens of thousands working on public-sector contracts.

Campaigners watched with bated breath as MSPs debated the Scottish government’s procurement Bill for a third and final time.

A Labour amendment had called on SNP ministers to require all firms awarded a public-sector contract to pay their staff the semi-official living wage, set at £7.65 an hour in Scotland.