Minimum wage pledge is core proposal of Buckle report

Labour's call for the minimum wage to be linked to the national average forms the "core proposal" of a report Ed Miliband commissioned from former deputy chairman of KPMG International Alan Buckle.

Mr Buckle's proposals to overhaul the Low Pay Commission include a new five-year target and a strengthened role in tackling poverty and raising productivity.

He said the goal to increase the minimum wage over the life of a parliament was achievable.

The GMB union said Labour's commitment to review the role of the Low Pay Commission was "welcome and necessary", while the TUC said: "Unions have long argued that many employers can easily pay more than the legal minimum."

"Alan Buckle's report shows that fair pay goes hand in hand with running a successful economy," TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said.