It's better than the proverbial kick in the teeth and, although there are exclusions for the likes of s/e and armed forces among others, if your employers pay just above the minimum wage they are not obliged to raise it to the new minimum.
This is part of the document pertaining to April 2019 on the government website. Of course, this raises the question as to whether those same rules will apply if Philip Hammond's plan materialises and what will employers think.
Will it apply to all ages or will it be age incremental as it is now?
That might mean that many companies will want a clear gap between the bottom and top tier wage structure, therefore, every wage/salary will have to move upwards.
It could cause some small businesses to struggle more than at present.
Prices of goods and services might well rise.
? Has he thought about the repercussions?
All a bit might and could at the moment. We will find out in due course. ?????