LABOUR councillors like Nigel Dix failed to realise the implications for Labour’s living wage policy in Caerphilly council. They have created a regional pay system, with neighbouring councils still paying their low-paid workers the old pay scale. Why should the low-paid workers of Merthyr, Torfaen, Newport, Blaenau Gwent and NHS be on a lower pay grade for doing the same job?

If the previous New Labour government in London hadn’t pandered to companies, they could have given every low-paid worker a living wage and made it law. There are thousands of low-paid workers in the private sector and in the NHS. Who pay their council tax and would have benefited from a national living wage.

Andrew Nutt Heolddu Road Bargoed