There’s no point criticising Stuart Broad without looking at the real issue at hand

The ill-judged Twitter comments of England cricketer Stuart Broad tell us less about him and more about society’s need to focus on the issues that really matter.

Given my openly stated wish to not just raise the minimum wage, as Labour has pledged to do, but to go further and implement the Living Wage, you may expect to hear me criticising the fast bowler.

Well, I won’t be.

His comment was certainly not his smartest move: “I’ve heard if you earn minimum wage in England you’re in the top 10% earners in the world. #stay #humble.”

It received an understandable angry backlash for fellow tweeters who felt he was dismissing the issue of low pay.

Broad’s subsequent explanation was that the first part was merely him repeating a fact he’d heard and found alarming and worrying, and that the hashtag was aimed at himself – recognising his privileged position.

However much commentators dissect those 20 words and contemplate what they could have meant, the fact is his explanation seems pretty rational and feasible.

Not only that, but he’s recognised that he didn’t think through what he’d put, and issued a swift apology for offence he caused.

I see no further need in a witch hunt against Broad. But this incident  does raise wider questions about the coverage this news story has been given compared to the actual issue of people being paid unacceptably low wages.

A quick web search reveals the Broad comment has been extensively covered by internet news portals as well as the national press. It has also been widely reported on both local and national TV and radio.

If only my commitment to make Derby a Living Wage City had received half that much coverage.

Therein lies the problem.  It’s no good castigating Broad, or anyone else who makes what appear to be controversial remarks, if we’re not going to look more deeply at the issue at hand.

I have repeatedly said Britain is going through a cost of living crisis.  The Government may boast about economic recovery, but where is this recovery being felt?

Certainly not among the low paid workers who are genuinely struggling to pay for food on the table, and who will be breathing a heartfelt sigh of relief this summer as the UK climate gives them a few months respite from massive winter fuel bills.

We’re told about unemployment rates falling, but you barely have to scratch the surface to realise that is the result of twisted statistics which take account of reduced-hours work and unreliable zero-hours contracts.

Chris Williamson is the MP for Derby North