A Manchester MP has proposed a change to the National Living Wage
MP Afzal Khan has suggested a “regionally adjusted” Living Wage in a written parliamentary question(Image: House of Commons)
The Government has issued a firm response relating to a suggested “regionally adjusted” Living Wage, as opposed to one standard national wage.
Across the UK there is a legal minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over, known as the National Living Wage. This rate is currently £12.21, but from April 2026, it is set to increase to £12.71 per hour. Those who are employed in London have a higher Living Wage, currently £13.85.
It’s important to note that the National Living Wage is different to the Real Living Wage; the Real Living Wage is a voluntary wage rate which gets independently calculated based on the cost of living. The current rates are £13.45 per hour in the UK and £14.80 per hour in London.
But now, the Government has issued a statement about potentially introducing varied Living Wage’s depending on where you live across the UK.
In a written parliamentary question, MP for Manchester and Rusholme Afzal Khan asked the Secretary of State for Business and Trade (DBT) whether they have considered introducing a “regionally adjusted” living wage.
Labour MP Afzal Khan wrote: “To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a regionally adjusted Living Wage for major urban areas outside London, including Greater Manchester.”
In a response shared by Kate Dearden, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for DBT, she confirmed that although the Govenrment is “committed to building an economy for working people”, they have “not considered” implementing a regionally adjusted living wage.
The MP for Halifax wrote: “This government is committed to building an economy that delivers for working people. As part of this work, the government sets the statutory minimum rates for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW) which applies to all employers.
Kate Dearden issued a response on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade(Image: Copyright Unknown)
“We have not considered implementing a regionally adjusted NLW. Defining regional economies presents significant challenges and the complexities of enforcing multiple rates would likely impact upon compliance. Furthermore, businesses consistently highlight that one of the NLW’s primary strengths lies in its simplicity and ease of administration with the same rates applying across the country.”
For those under 21, the minimum wage is slightly different. For 18 to 20 year olds, the minimum wage is £10 per hour, and for those under 18 it is £7.55, which is the same as the apprentice minimum wage.
More information on National Living Wage and minimum wage can be found on the Gov.uk website here.