THE Budget sends a clear message to public sector workers that they should expect to get poorer over the next five years. Wage rises frozen at 1%, while GDP is to grow at 2% and while MPs have the prospect of a self-awarded 10% pay rise later this year.
I cannot see how this rewards 'hard-working people' or helps solve the recruitment crises in the NHS and education.
Apparently Britain is now to become a 'high wage' economy, with the minimum wage raised to become a living wage – in theory at least. The Green Party is delighted that Mr Osborne now concedes (after the General Election of course) that the current minimum wage is not a living wage.
Although it is encouraging to see him adopting the decade-old Green Party minimum wage policy, the devil is in the detail. His new minimum wage is not for the under-25s, and is 65p short of the accepted living wage of £7.85.
Young people are likely to be on the lowest wages and won't benefit. This isn't really a living wage, it's a sop.
ROBERT PALGRAVE Green Party How Caple
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