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Sadiq Khan today promised a “better deal” for London’s bus drivers by setting a minimum salary of £23,000 a year for the first time.

The Mayor wants to create a level playing field for 25,000 drivers who are currently paid different amounts for working on different routes, despite being equally qualified.

But from April the capital’s 11 private bus companies, which operate the routes for Transport for London, will have to guarantee a basic starting salary.

Mr Khan, whose father was a bus driver, said: “London’s hard-working bus drivers keep our city moving at all times of day and night. Yet while millions of Londoners rely upon buses every day, for too long drivers haven’t been getting a fair deal.

“London’s buses are an iconic and essential part of our everyday life, and our new proposals are the first step towards ensuring our professional drivers are treated fairly, and get the pay they deserve.”

Tory Assembly member Keith Prince said: “London’s bus drivers work hard and should be properly compensated, but these new wage requirements are not the way to achieve this.

“There are good reasons why bus companies might pay drivers extra to work more complex routes.

“The London bus system has been a success because we give our bus operators the freedom to run these services the way that works best.

“In the end it will be the taxpayer subsidising the bus operators for making these unnecessary changes.”