Is Kemi Badenoch right when she says the minimum wage should not increase any further?

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said the minimum wage should not rise further, arguing that many businesses cannot afford the recent increases without cutting jobs.

She noted that when she previously raised the wage as business secretary, firms reported needing to let staff go.

In contrast, the current government recently announced a 4.1% increase in the minimum wage for over-21s to £12.71 an hour, alongside higher rates for younger workers.

Badenoch said ministers should stop mandating increases and focus instead on easing burdens like taxes and regulations.

She claimed that excessive intervention risks job losses and undermines the ability of businesses to hire and grow.