Minimum wage is UK’s ‘most successful economic policy in a generation’

The minimum wage has driven up the pay of millions of Britain’s lowest earners by £6,000 a year, making it the single most successful economic policy in a generation, according to a leading thinktank.

Since its introduction in 1999 by Tony Blair’s first Labour administration the policy has secured cross-party agreement, and should be seen as the basis for further improvements in the welfare of low wage workers, the Resolution Foundation said.

Nye Cominetti, principal economist at the Resolution Foundation, said parliament should use a review of the commission’s remit “to discuss the future of the minimum wage and low pay more widely ahead of the election”.

He said: “Politicians should reflect on why the minimum wage has been so successful – such as the combination of long-term political direction and independent, expert-led oversight – and whether this approach could be broadened to tackle some of the UK’s other low pay challenges.”

The foundation said MPs should consider how the level of statutory sick pay had fallen in relation to average wages and could be brought under the umbrella of the commission.

Some critics of the minimum wage have argued it is too high while others believe it has not risen fast enough to reduce poverty in the UK.