LABOUR’S pledge to “significantly” boost pay for Britain’s five million low-paid workers won backing yesterday from trade unions and anti-poverty campaigners. 

Leader Ed Miliband said decent wages not higher welfare spending will be the “basic principle” of a Labour government if they kick the Con-Dems out next year at an event launching the results of Labour’s low-pay commission.

He promised to link the minimum rate to higher earnings — but he remained tight-lipped on how much Labour would boost pay and promised to consult business before any rise.