SIR – I despair of political leaders in the UK. Ed Miliband is now boasting he is going to compound the absurdity of the minimum wage by increasing it. An average of 30 per cent youth unemployment should be telling him to abandon it altogether. There is no minimum wage in the most successful economy in Europe, Germany, where youth unemployment is nine per cent.

The minimum wage simply removes unskilled labour from the workforce. One wonders if Ed Miliband is not sponsored by daytime TV companies as the effect will simply mean youngsters watch more of it.

To take a logical extension of Miliband’s view, why not make the minimum wage £100 per hour? Bingo! Automatic economic recovery as we will all be awash with money.

Godfrey Bloom, MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, Main Street, Wressle, Selby