Healey reportedly to raise minimum wage 3.9% at Budget, ending youth rate equalisation
The Times reports Chancellor John Healey will raise the national living wage about 3.9% to around £13.20 at the Budget, with the younger-worker rate rising by the same percentage. The Treasury declined to comment on the report.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Chancellor John Healey is reportedly set to raise the minimum wage by 3.9% at the Budget, according to The Times, as relayed by City A.M. and the Daily Mirror. City A.M.RC “Healey is expected to deliver a huge pay increase of 3.9 per cent to low-wage workers on Wednesday, according to The Times.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Daily MirrorL “Chancellor John Healey is poised to increase the national living wage, which applies to people aged 21 and over, from £12.71 per hour to around £13.20.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2The national living wage for those aged 21 and over would rise from £12.71 to about £13.20 an hour, while the rate for younger workers would go from £10.85 to about £11.27, the same 3.9% rise. City A.M.RC “The national living wage could rise from £12.71 to £13.20 while the national minimum wage, which applies to younger workers, will also only rise by 3.9 per cent from £10.85 to £11.27.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Daily MirrorL “Younger workers aged 18 to 21 will see their rate from £10.85 to around £11.27, an increase of 3.9 per cent, according to The Times.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2The reported rise would mark the end of the government's aim to equalise pay for younger workers with older adults; the Mirror notes the younger rate rose 8.5% this year, narrowing the gap to £1.86 an hour. City A.M.RC “the increase will also mark the end of the government’s desire to equalise wages for under 21-year-olds with other adults.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Daily MirrorL “The minimum wage for younger workers rose by 8.5% this year, reducing the difference to £1.86 an hour.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2Labour's manifesto promised to scrap "discriminatory" age bands; City A.M. says the party pledged to bring youth wages in line with the living wage by 2030. Daily MirrorL “Labour's manifesto committed to scrapping "discriminatory" age bands” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ City A.M.RC “The party said it would bring wages in line with the living wage by 2030.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2The Treasury declined to comment on the report, with City A.M. quoting it as calling the story "speculation". City A.M.RC “The Treasury declined to comment on “speculation”.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Daily MirrorL “A Treasury spokesman declined to comment.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Concern over youth joblessness lies behind the reported shift. Neets (young people not in education, employment or training) exceeded a million earlier this year for the first time since 2013, and City A.M. says unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds passed 16%, the first time in over a decade. Daily MirrorL “The numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (Neets) exceeded a million earlier this year - for the first time since 2013.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ City A.M.RC “The unemployment for those aged between 16 and 24 surpassed 16 per cent for the first time in over a decade.” Read at City A.M. ↗
Right · 1Business groups have argued that rapid minimum wage rises deter hiring. Kate Nicholls, chair of UK Hospitality, said equalisation would "damage job opportunities at entry level" and welcomed the decision; City A.M. also says the overall unemployment rate is 4.7%, up from about 4.4%, and that Rachel Reeves's earlier increases were cited as a reason. City A.M.RC “Kate Nicholls, the chair of UK Hospitality, said equalisation of wages between younger and older workers “would damage job opportunities at entry level” as she welcomed the decision.”“Increases in the minimum wage by former Chancellor Rachel Reeves were cited as a reason for rising unemployment.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Left · 1The TUC rejected the warnings, citing analysis that 85% of young people are already paid above the youth rate, and the Mirror says the Low Pay Commission found earlier alignment of 21 to 24-year-olds' rates did not affect employment. Daily MirrorL “But the TUC rubbished the warnings about equalising the rates, pointing to analysis showing 85% of youngsters are already paid above it.”“Previous minimum wage rises to bring 23 and 24-year-olds, and later 21 and 22-year-olds, in line with adult rates didn’t impact employment rates, according to the Low Pay Commission.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1Alan Milburn's review of youth joblessness is due shortly, and the Mirror adds that More In Common polling found 38% want Healey to prioritise energy bills. Daily MirrorL “Ex-Cabinet Minister Alan Milburn is expected to publish his review into the crisis in the coming weeks.”“Research by More In Common found that 38% want Mr Healey to focus on reducing bills” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads on the slower rises for younger workers and the gap with Labour's manifesto pledge to scrap age bands.
- Emphasis
- The manifesto commitment, the 8.5% rise for younger workers this year, the TUC's rebuttal and Low Pay Commission evidence that earlier alignment did not hurt employment; adds cost-of-living polling.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little on business warnings beyond "critics", and no UK Hospitality comment or overall unemployment rate.
- Charged language
- “discriminatory”“rubbished”
- For example
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“John Healey set to announce Budget minimum wage rise - but slower hikes for younger workers” — Daily Mirror
“But the TUC rubbished the warnings about equalising the rates” — Daily Mirror
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the rise as a large increase for low earners that also ends the aim of equalising youth pay, set against employer costs and rising unemployment.
- Emphasis
- Business warnings on hiring and prices, the unemployment rate, Reeves's earlier rises, the Milburn review and UK Hospitality's welcome of the decision.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the TUC's counter-argument and the Low Pay Commission finding on earlier alignment.
- Charged language
- “huge pay increase”“hike”
What every side reports
- Both outlets cite The Times for a 3.9% rise, to about £13.20 for over-21s and about £11.27 for younger workers.
- The Treasury declined to comment.
- Labour's manifesto promised to end "discriminatory" age bands.
- Youth unemployment and Neets are a major concern, and Alan Milburn's review is pending.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the 3.9% rise is a good or a bad outcome
- Left
- The Mirror stresses the retreat from the manifesto pledge and gives the TUC's rebuttal of employment-harm warnings.
- Right
- City A.M. stresses the pressure on employers and unemployment, and quotes UK Hospitality welcoming the decision.
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Age range of the lower rate
- Left
- The Mirror says workers aged 18 to 21.
- Right
- City A.M. says under-21s and describes the lower rate as applying to "younger workers".
John Healey person
Reported to be planning the 3.9% rise; the Treasury declined to comment on the report, which City A.M. quotes it as calling "speculation".
“The Treasury declined to comment on “speculation”.” — City A.M.
“A Treasury spokesman declined to comment.” — Daily Mirror
National minimum wage topic
The coverage presents the minimum wage as both a popular policy and a contested one, with business groups blaming it for weaker youth hiring and the TUC disputing that.
“The policy is popular among voters although business chiefs have long warned that extra staff could add to pressures in the jobs market and force them to raise prices.” — City A.M.
“Critics have argued increases to the minimum wage are discouraging employers to take on younger workers.” — Daily Mirror
Left1 article
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John Healey set to announce Budget minimum wage rise - but slower hikes for younger workers
Mixed Presents the rise as a retreat from Labour's manifesto on youth pay, with union and Low Pay Commission evidence against job-loss warnings.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Healey to ‘increase minimum wage by 3.9 per cent’
Mixed Reports the rise as a pay boost for low earners while emphasising business and unemployment concerns and the end of youth equalisation.
- 26 Oct 18:08 First City A.M.RC Healey to ‘increase minimum wage by 3.9 per cent’
- 26 Oct 18:58 +50m Daily MirrorL John Healey set to announce Budget minimum wage rise - but slower hikes for younger workers
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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