A minimum wage alone can’t fix the UK poverty scandal

The 25-year-old pay floor is justly celebrated but doesn't tackle issues that mean exploitation and misery for many

Next month will mark 25 years since the national minimum wage was first paid in Britain: a quarter of a century during which what was once seen as a radical leftwing policy has won broad cross-party support.

Over the past 14 years, the Conservatives have appropriated and expanded the policy, despite adopting a laissez-faire approach to other aspects of labour market regulation.