Ordinary People

Here is Philip Davies MP for Shipley. Looks an affable sort of chap. He's keen to make a mark and his latest suggestion for the disabled to 'opt out' of the minumum wage has certainly done the trick.
It is no more than logical to say the disabled or women or young black males may be able to get employment easier, if they sell their labour for less than the statutory minimum. Or even give it away for free. But Davies, probably willfuly, misses the entire point. The minimum wage was instituted here, in the U.S. and many other countries because there was a consensus on what was an acceptable living wage and where employees could be protected against discriminatory and exploitative employers.
The principle of the strong protecting the weak does not resonate too well with this Government despite the Lib-Dems' influence, such as it is.
Ed Milliband achieved a rare, resounding victory over Dave at PMQs by exposing his ignorance about the removal of benefits from about 7,000 people recovering from cancer. He must have won well because Quentin Letts of the Mail called it a "score-draw". Another Government may have agreed to iron out this wrinkle in IDS's great Benefit Reform Bill. But later that day No.10 insisted they would "press ahead" - political arrogance trumping humanity.
And to what end exactly? Are these stern measures necessary to stem the rising tide of workshy cancer patients?
Phil Davies can live with being despised in fact it qualifies him for a promising Ministerial career.