Lidl’s lesson for MPs: pay a living wage

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/sep/20/lidls-lesson-for-mps-pay-a-living-wage

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It is great news that Lidl is to pay its staff the living wage (Report, 18 September). Perhaps it is now time for the Houses of Parliament to follow their good example by paying their staff the London living wage. This could be funded by stopping the subsidy on food and alcohol in the Commons’ bars and restaurants. That should be easily affordable by MPs on £67,000 a year with a pay rise pending.Ruth FunnellGreat Torrington, Devon

• If the Tories wanted to help working folks on low wages, they would have a proper living wage and leave tax credit as is. Most claimants would lose entitlement. The same nonsense applies in Scotland where the government could have insisted on councils operating the living wage for their workers and their subcontractors at least. They could have paid for that by putting up council tax for people like me in bigger houses or by using their tax-raising powers. They talked of local income tax, but decided it was too complicated and expensive. So, nothing in eight years, only talk.Esther ClarkAyr