Diamond Jubilee 2012: Inquiry call after unpaid workers ‘left out in cold’

LORD Prescott has called for an immediate investigation into claims that jobseekers were bussed into London to work as unpaid stewards during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

He said it was “totally unacceptable” that benefit claimants were forced to sleep in the cold under London Bridge in the early hours of Sunday morning, adding that Close Protection UK, which was contracted to provide up to 30 unpaid stewards, had failed to “show a duty of care”.

In a letter to Home Secretary Theresa May, Labour’s former deputy leader said the allegations raised “serious questions” about using private firms to police the Olympics.

His letter follows claims that Close Protection UK bussed in a group of long-term unemployed to work as unpaid stewards during the River Pageant on Sunday.

Reports claimed the workers, including another 50 people on apprentice wages, were brought in as part of the government’s Work Programme, where the unemployed must take up placements in order to continue receiving benefits.

It is alleged they had to camp overnight under London Bridge before they started work, but sources at the Department for Work and Pensions said they were only outside in the cold for two hours after a “mix-up” when the driver refused to let them sleep on board.