Everybody likes paid holidays, but this shock proposal is unaffordable. It amounts to a massive increase in labour costs, and a huge disruption to companies across the country. As ever, costs will be passed on, with wage growth taking a hit over the next few years. If workers suddenly have to work three days less, they will be paid commensurately less. A new industry will develop to make the most of the loophole: people pretending to volunteer but actually enjoying time off. If ever a policy had been invented to incentivise dishonesty and undermine genuine charity, this is it.