Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on the commencement of the new National Minimum Wage rate of £6.50 an hour today, said:

“After the value of the minimum wage has been eroded as families have been hit by the cost-of-living crisis, it is welcome that we are now seeing a modest rise as the Low Pay Commission has recommended.

“But we must go further. Labour has announced plans which will see a minimum wage of £8 in the next Parliament by setting a more ambitious target to ensure a fair day’s pay, alongside tougher enforcement action.

“The Tory-led government has failed to match our plans to make work pay again and boost living standards. And to add insult to injury, George Osborne misled working people by claiming he wanted to see a £7.00 minimum wage then failing to deliver or set out plans for reaching this figure.”