UK Chancellor Healey signals youth minimum wage gap may stay

UK Chancellor John Healey has suggested 18- to 20-year-olds may not get the same minimum wage as older workers before the next election, potentially breaking a 2024 Labour pledge to scrap age bands. Asked about it in a BBC interview, he said, 'We'll take one step at a time.' In 2026, the younger rate rises to £11.27 an hour, against £13.21 for over-20s.