Jeremy Corbyn’s minimum wage promise has been criticised by business leaders, who said it could increase youth unemployment

Business leaders have warned Labour against playing “political football” with the minimum wage as Jeremy Corbyn promises £10 an hour to under-18s.

The Labour leader will use a speech in Birmingham today to say that his party intents to extend plans for a higher £10-an-hour minimum wage to include young workers.

He plans to abolish the “youth rate”, which currently pays workers under 18 a minimum of £4.35 per hour, compared with £8.21 for those over 25.

However, Matthew Percival, head of employment at the Confederation of British Industry, said the different rates should be retained as they help to reduce youth unemployment.

“The minimum wage is an important part of the UK labour market and must not be used as a political football,” he