Healey refuses to say Labour will keep its manifesto pledge on equal minimum wage for young workers before the election

Chancellor John Healey admitted that Labour may not close the gap between the 18-to-20 minimum wage and the adult rate before the next election, despite a clear 2024 manifesto pledge to end "discriminatory age bands." He said the timetable was "a question of when" and "how fast," not whether — but refused to guarantee delivery within this Parliament. The Budget last week raised both rates by 3.9%, leaving 18-to-20-year-olds on £11.27 an hour against over-20s on £13.21.

Healey said youth unemployment — 'a million youngsters written off' — makes him wary of forcing faster wage equalisation on employers.

The retreat is likely to anger trade unions and Labour's left, who backed the manifesto promise of full equalisation.

Healey also hinted at further spending cuts ahead, saying the government has shown it will 'take hard decisions about priorities.'