TUC chief Brendan Barber has made claims that the UK's retail sector can afford forthcoming rises in the Minimum Wage because of a good sales year.

Commenting on statistics for November, which showed a slight increase in retail sales in the run up to Christmas, Mr Barber said:

"The figures show that despite predictions of doom and gloom, many of the household names on the high street are actually doing rather well."

He goes on to argue that the Low Pay Commission, which is due to reconvene this month to discuss a higher Minimum Wage, should "dismiss false claims from shop bosses that they cannot afford another rise".

However, Mr Barber fails to distinguish between the large retail multiples that may indeed be able to afford a rising Minimum Wage, and the smaller businesses that will undoubtedly struggle to match it.

He also manages to undo any last dregs of confidence the small business community may have had in the TUC by labelling their genuine concerns over this issue "false claims".