Labour MP John McDonnell has called for a public enquiry into the construction industry after a series of scandals hit the industry this year including proof of blacklisting and the Office of Fair Trading enquiry into cover pricing

He said the industry needed “absolute openness” and demanded “full disclosure of all that’s gone on with the blacklisting issue”.

McDonnell said the OFT’s recent investigation into price-fixing highlighted the need for an enquiry into the whole industry.

“We need a full public enquiry to encourage people within the industry to come forward and tell their story,” he said.

He added that if the government resisted the demand, he would push for an enquiry through the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

Postscript

For more on those scandals go to www.building.co.uk/archive