I must admit an economy where we don't seem to pay enough workers enough so that they need to have their incomes topped up by benefits strikes me as a bit mad and inefficient. We'll pay you x quid an hour and then top it up via tax credits just must be inefficeient? I have changed my views on the minimum wage too, paying people a decent wage in the first place so they are less likely to need state handouts and am less convinced than I used to be that this'll damage our international competitiveness. Also, given that over the years i have moved to a position where I have considered voting Tory, David C and others unplasant rhetoric about those on benefits is making that option less palatble and whilst normally I ignore all the stuff about 'posh boys' etc, in this case you do really wonder.....moving to the right is suicide for the torise in my opinion and i thought Osboune and Cameron raelised that, got spooked by UKIP methinks Although I do agee with MM, the continual bashing of 'the rich', 'businessmen (never woman, note) bankers et al by many on the left is just as prejudiced and harmful.