We should abolish the minimum wage to help the poor

It doesn't necessarily mean more people working. Do you understand the concept of price elasticity?

Also, because of the tax credit system, the lower you push wages the more the government pays in benefits to working people. You did realise that it's not just the unemployed who receive benefits, didn't you? That it's means tested... you realised that, didn't you?

You lower the price of anything then consumption (or in this case employment) increases..?

Also the government doesn't subsidise people's incomes

Minimum wage might mean fewer employed in the first instance
However, those employed would have more money, giving some disposable income
Giving increased spending
More buoyant economy
Employment increases

Or is that too simple

Oh how cute. You've never heard of "tax" credits.

Does this mean that I've won our little debate?

It will rise because people would rather be on the dole than get paid £5 a hour. Would you work for £5 a hour? Or would you stay at home, claims £72 a week JSA and have your rent and council tax paid? Trust me, the welfare bill would shoot through the roof, because there is no incentive to work for £5 a hour, not in 2013.

We all agree that the welfare bill needs to come down, and to do this:

Slash corporation tax from 22% to 12% for businesses, which will cost £18 Billon.
Hike the minimum wage to £9 a hour.
Put the Personal Allowance up from £9,440 to £15,000, which will cost £15 Billion.

How do we pay for this? You are thinking.

We put VAT up to 22%, that will raise £14 Billion a year.
Abolish all in work tax credits, which will save £24 Billion.
Put the higher tax rate back up to 50%.

I have a small pub in Scotland, and I have a manager and four staff. The most expensive cost I have is corporation tax. My Corporation Tax bill for 2012 was £97,000. If I could have this halved, then I would be more than happy to pay my staff a new NMW of £9 a hour, as I would be able to afford too.

I know what I'm suggesting is not going to happen in this country, but all you have to do is look over the Irish Sea, and they don't tax you on your first €16,500 of earnings and the NMW is €8.60 a hour, 12.5% Corporation Tax, and VAT is 23%, which pays for the NMW and the massive Personal Allowance. My Uncle is Mechanic, and he takes home €800 a week.

Before someone mentions the Bailout, it has nothing to do with NMW, the bankers got greedy and the government had to bail out the banks, like here in the UK, the reason Ireland went under is because it has a population of 4 Million, the UK has 60 Million, so the UK has more tax revenue. also in Ireland, the years Council Tax is capped at just €100 a year!

Yeah, this would absolutely be the case if we didn't have a massive reserve army of immigrant scab labour.

Then again, the corporate right absolutely loves immigration because it undermines the pay, conditions and job security of the working class.

Does this mean you're dodging the question?

I accept your surrender.

Surely a compromise would be to allow companies to pay free-market wages, then for the Government to subsidise it so that it falls in line with a minimum wage figure?

Hahaha you sir should be in the House of Commons

Doesn't this just leave companies open to paying 1p/hour because the government are happy to top it up, thus getting the government to pay for private sector wages?

Yes, it gives them a bigger pool of labour. Furthermore, it gives them more consumers.

On the other hand, you have to consider that immigrants tend to have better attitudes than British working class. I'm all for British First, as long as they can do a good job. Unfortunately, the working class in this country have a terrible attitude problem and sense of entitlement. That's why I'm glad for the Eastern European workers.

Forgive me, I thought that to receive unemployment welfare you must be actively seeking work - if you are offered a number of suitable job and refuse to take any, you lose that welfare?

Oh I do agree with reducing corporation tax and increasing the minimum tax-free allowance!

Actually it hasn't. In fact, just the opposite has been shown in many cases.

Those who make the case you do seem to be completely ignorant of price elasticity.

Oh how cute. You've never heard of "tax" credits.