All four minimum wage rates rise by the same 3.9% in the Budget, so the gap between younger and older workers does not narrow. Kemi Badenoch accused the government in the Commons of breaking Labour's manifesto pledge to remove age bands from the minimum wage, and the Greens made the same charge.
The manifesto did commit to removing adult age bands, according to the Morning Advertiser and LBC. Speaking to the BBC before the Budget, Jonathan Reynolds said the government had "always been clear it would happen over time", the Morning Advertiser reports.
The apprentice rate rises from £8 to £8.31 an hour from 1 April 2027, FE Week reports. The same rate applies to 16 and 17-year-olds who are not apprentices. The figure is correct: 3.9% on £8 gives £8.312.
FE Week says this is the smallest percentage rise in the apprentice rate since 2021. It rose 6% this April, 18% in 2025 and 21% in 2024.
In cash terms, the gap between the 16 to 17 rate and the National Living Wage widens from £4.71 an hour to £4.90.