JOHN McDONNELL has urged Business Secretary Greg Clark to “personally intervene” to help his department’s agency workers, who have been forced to use foodbanks and take strike action against poverty pay.

The shadow chancellor called on Mr Clark to step in as workers at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) begin four days of strike action tomorrow.

The cleaners and caterers, who are members of the PCS union, are employed by subcontracting giants ISS and Aramark.