A leading Labour politician in the Chilterns has branded Chancellor George Osborne a “shambles” and the new National Living Wage (NLW) a “PR stunt” in a strongly-worded statement this week.

The new measure, which came onto effect on April 1, means that all workers aged 25 and over will now earn at least £7.20 per hour.

The Conservatives say 1.3 million people are expected to benefit directly from the NLW, but Ben Davies, chair of Labour in Chesham and Amersham Constituency, believes the figures are misleading.

Mr Davies said: “The National Living Wage is a typical George Osborne sleight of hand.

“Just as he increases living wage levels for 1.5m workers to £7.20 an hour he cuts back in work benefits for two million families who lose £1,600.

“The so-called living wage sounds like a good thing but then you look at the details and it’s another PR stunt from the omnishambles chancellor.”

Meanwhile Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan welcome the new measure, saying it will reward hard-working people in the area.

The former Welsh secretary said: “Chesham & Amersham deserves a pay rise and I’m very proud to be part of a Conservative party that is delivering the higher-wage, lower-tax, lower-welfare economy we all want to see.

“Boosting wages while ensuring that people are always better off in work are at the heart of our long-term plan.

“We’re backing hard work and aspiration – creating opportunity for hardworking people across Chesham & Amersham – and, with more people in work than ever before, our plan is working.”

But Mr Davies disagrees and added: “There are many people at the lower end of the income scale in Chesham and Amersham who Cheryl Gillan would do well to pay more attention to.

“Many of them are living in inadequate accommodation unable to afford proper food, forced to resort to food banks. That’s the reality of life for many millions in David Cameron’s Britain.”