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Tory attacks on Minimum Wage

Posted by Jim Sheridan, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, at 11:11, Wed 3 April 2013:

Below is a copy of a press release I issued yesterday on Tory plans to attack the minimum wage.

Tory attacks on workers right now focussing on National Minimum Wage says Jim

Renfrewshire MP Jim Sheridan has said that Tory attempts to freeze or cut the National Minimum Wage are just the latest attack on workers’ rights in support of big business.

Speaking today the Labour politician said, “I find it outrageous but by no means surprising that this Tory Government are seeking to undermine the Minimum Wage. They have already cut support for working families and are relentless in their efforts to roll back the rights of working people. Their economic plan has failed the country but has served their purpose in creating a situation where they can attack the hard won rights of workers.”

The Tory-led Coalition Government has instructed the Low Pay Commission, the body responsible for setting the rate of the Minimum Wage, to consider the impact on the economy and jobs when making its recommendations.

Mr Sheridan added, “The Tories have always been opposed to the minimum wage and they have now begun their campaign to remove what they see as an unfair cost for their friends in big business. The directive issued to the Low Pay Commission puts the Tories in a position where they can freeze or even cut the minimum wage which would affect tens of thousands of people in Renfrewshire and across the UK. That the Tories would do this in the same week as they are cutting support for millions of working families and yet giving a tax break to thousands of millionaires is staggering and makes it abundantly clear that we are not ‘all in this together’.”