Home
Tories would scrap Minimum Wage
Senior members of the Conservative Party have revealed that a David Cameron Government would allow the Minimum Wage to fall out of use.
David Cameron's Tories would allow the Minimum Wage to "melt away"
The Tories will not scrap the Minimum Wage outright, as such a move would be too controversial. But they say: "It would be foolish to continue hiking up the minimum hourly rate by the rate of inflation every year. We need to find ways of helping British business to remain competitive.
"The Minimum Wage won't be scrapped but it will be allowed to wither on the vine. A series of smaller, more affordable increases will mean it will just melt away."
Cabinet Office minister Tom Watson commented: "The Tories would allow the Minimum Wage to die out, condemning thousands of workers to a life on poverty pay."
Mimimum Wage, Living Wage?
The Minimum Wage was introduced in 1998 and, despite grim warnings from the Tories, it has not led to any significant job losses.
CAP and other campaigners have repeatedly pointed out that the current level - even with annual increases - is not adequate for what most people in the UK regard as a minimum acceptable standard of living. We are calling for a Living Wage of at least £7 an hour.
