Hi,lm a relatively new member (2mths)and am surprised they allow this sort of debate,I must add PLEASANTLY surprised,I dont know the answer but i,ll give you my views right or wrong.Please excuse me if some of my views are incorrect,Im no politician,just a humble working class(when l can get it) man from Newcastle.It looks like more waffle to me,whos to say they will stay be in power when this proposed new minimum wage comes into effect and like someone said £9 will be eaten away by inflation if inflation is 7% a year for next 5yrs thats the increase gone.Honestly they go to these fancy schools and really look down on the working mans intelligence.Im sure there will be a lot of people on this site worked in other countries,countries that you can work hard and get the benefit of your efforts in your pay packet not taken away by the taxman,countries like Holland where in my experience welcome british engineers and pay them well,and maybe l,v been lucky but conditions are much better-theres a saying over there "you cant sack a dutchman" the locals dont like to work long hrs like we have to,to get a decent wage over here,so they have to fetch foreign contracters to Holland to meet deadlines and work overtime.They cant force the locals to work as they are too protected by employment laws-so most just work the basic hrs,spend time with their familys and look forward to retirement,now these figure might not be exact at this time but were accurate 20yrs ago and will not have changed much as their Queen looks after them,so if they are unlucky and find themselfs on the "dole" panick stations here not there,you get,75% of your average wage for your dole money.So they are in no way in hardship-same with pensions,same % of your wage-so pensioners can have holidays,eat well,and enjoy their time after working-check this out and you will find this is correct