Campaign targets 'obscene' City pay

The "obscenity" of inflated city bonuses was attacked by leaders of a new campaign aimed at raising the pay of the poorest workers in Britain.

Yesterday's attack by the Fair Pay Network, which is backed by leading unions, put pressure on the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, to tighten the tax loopholes for the super-rich.

Downing Street said yesterday the proposals for taxing "non-doms" – rich foreign businessmen who avoid some UK taxes – would help tackle the gap.

Mark Donne, of the Fair Pay Network, said: "Pay rates at the top of the labour market have become obscene. Some 4,000 City employees were awarded bonuses of £1m or more – and most will have found some way to shelter their riches. Yet 1.5 million children in poverty belong to households that pay full council tax."

The campaign was launched as Gordon Brown met union leaders to discuss demands for equal pay for agency workers.