An answer to the minimum wage.

Rachel and I are invited to a BBQ over the river - we arrive early evening after a trip to Plymouth to catch up with parents.

Miles and I have a long conversation about many things. He says he hates to be termed a "socialist" but he proposes a very radical socialist solution to the minimum wage.

I say that it is a disgrace that someone working fulltime (40 hours per week) on the minimum wage still needs to supplement their wages with Working Tax Credit. His proposal is that the mimimum wage increases at the rate of 50p per 6 month period. Perhaps employers will need a little incentive, such a slight reduction in national insurance contributions. I think he may be onto a winning idea here.

In this light, I will need to talk in greater detail about his ideas for social housing...