Bright Blue Conference today - speaking at 2.30 with Nick Tyrone and others

Speaking about blue collar Conservatism and building on my article in the Renewal Pamphlet published last year: http://www.renewalgroup.org.uk/Access_All_Areas_v1.0.pdf

Minimum Wage set to rise!

Great news announced today by the Chancellor; he has said he wants to see an above-inflation increase in the minimum wage. He told the BBC the "economy can now afford" to raise the rate, currently set at £6.31 an hour for people over the age of 21. This is the next step in a long campaign led by Renewal, David Skelton, Rob Halfon MP, Matt Hancock MP,myself, Chris White MP, Paul Maynard MP and others. Full story here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25766558

TUC, Newcastle Uni and Tim Montgomerie all feature in my debates sunday in Manchester

The Resolution Foundation has asked Tim Montgomerie, Frances O'Grady, David Skelton and I onto the panel for the Resolution Foundation and TUC debate on "Tackling Low Pay" on Sunday between 6-7 inside the conference zone at Exchange 6. I will be welcoming the increase in the minimum wage, making the case for a living wage and talking about what government and businesses can do to address low pay. Both Tim and Frances are outstanding speakers and there are more key players on the panel like Mary Riddell and Gavin Kelly. It will be a fascinating session.
I hope we will also be discussing the wider plans that David Skelton and I are working upon to address blue collar issues more generally. These include action on apprenticeships, education, supporting the unions and giving union members free membership of the Conservative party, if they want to. For my part I see the unions as a key player in addressing low pay. It is not simply about money, although that is fundamental. Of almost more importance is a pragmatic relationship between unions, employers and employees.
 
I will be 15 minutes late as I cannot fail to support the Newcastle University organised fringe next door in Exchange 4-5, starting at 5.30, where we will be examining "Wellbeing in Later Life" with Professor Tom Kirkwood CBE, from the University plus the Minister, David Willetts MP, Norma Cohen from the FT and Dr Lynne Corner. Tom's work is genuinely groundbreaking and addresses a key issue which everyone has to deal with.
Please come along     

Renewal launches today - proud to have written for this brilliant pamphlet

http://www.renewalgroup.org.uk/Access_All_Areas_v1.0.pdf
I wrote the chapter at page 66, but would recommend all the pamphlet for bold and innovative thinking as to how we transform this great country.
The Pamphlet has got great coverage - it is edited by Consett born, David Skelton. Did the launch yesterday with Eric Pickles, and today with Laura Sandys, MP, Paul Uppal MP, and Rob Halfon, MP in the House of Commons.

Update: I was pleased to see one reader comment - see below in comments section - that this pamphlet is:
"a surprisingly good read!"
It is fair to say that the authors are almost all 2010 intake of Conservative MPs, who like myself are still very small fish in a big pond, notwithstanding that we might hold very junior roles in government - I for example am a junior Parliamanetary Private Secretary at the Home Office. The pamphlet is all about trying to sketch out policies for 2015 and beyond and to road test ideas both in print and speeches.
But you will hear lots more of the likes of Paul Uppal, the wonderful MP for Wolverhampton: Paul makes the point that the citizens of Wolverhampton elected him, a young lad from an ethnic minority, who grew up in a 2 up and 2 down in Wolverhampton, to a seat which was once represented by guess who ...? Enoch Powell, author or Rivers of Blood
This country has come a long way since the 1960s has it not?