Osborne agrees on the Minimum wage

I posted an article a few days ago about how a number of Conservatives - including myself - have come round to the view that a moderate above-inflation increase in the minimum wage - perhaps enough to restore it to the sort of real value it had in 2004 - might increase rather than decrease employment by increasing the differential between the rewards of work and being on benefits.

It has been pointed out - quite correctly - that if you raise the minimum wage too high, you will price people out of work. But I don't think the British economy is currently in the place where a moderate rise will have that effect.

Chancellor George Osborn has now said that he too agrees and has written giving this advice to the low pay commission, who actually set the minimum wage.

Do you know the sad thing about this?

Most of the press commentary has not been on whether Osborne is actually right - I happen to think he is dead on, but the press should be discussing the merits - but instead on whether this will annoy Labour and the Lib/Dems by stealing their clothes.

Isn't it ridiculous sometimes that the press can treat it as a political party attacking another when they agree with them and implement the policy that the "attacked" party has been arguing for?

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