Lewis Sidnick...

When the wage was introduced it was set at a reasonable level but since we have seen large increases [...] The government needs to recognise that the economy is worsening, while business costs are rising.

Sir Digby Jones, director general of the CBI added that next year's planned rise to £5.35 an hour would have a "serious impact" on some sectors of the economy.

Yawn. Same old tired rubbish, the same tired rubbish you peddled when Labour started the minimum wage in 1999, which at that time was £3.60 per hour - which you lot said would cause "hundreds of thousands" of job losses. The actual figures show the number of workers actually grew.

The Unions and the left should immediately up the stakes and campaign for a minimum wage of £9.50 per hour, if the Blairite faction doesn't yield remove them, if businesses threaten job cuts and closures, nationalise their businesses and boot the people on 6 digit salaries out.