---
# System prepended metadata

title: Living Wage Motion

---

# Living Wage Motion

**That this House notes** that all labour has value, regardless of the age of the worker who performs it;

**That this House urges the Government to** make regulations under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to—

(1) Create a living wage as the minimum wage for all workers 18 years of age and over; and

(2) To set that living wage at a rate exceeding £10 per hour.

**This motion is moved by the Rt Hon. Dame lily-irl, MP for the East of England, on behalf of the Official Opposition, and is co-sponsored by the Green Party.**

### Opening Speech

Mr Speaker,

I have written on this matter before but I always welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter again. The labour of young people is not inherently worth less than that of older people. Eighteen year olds often start families and move away from home. Many don't have the luxury of being able to rely on their parents to supplement their income. So why don't they deserve a living wage?

This motion calls on the government to exercise its powers under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to recognise in law the fact that all people are deserving of fair compensation for their labour. That they deserve a living wage when they work. That a Briton who works full-time should not have to work multiple jobs in order to make ends meet.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I commend this motion to the House.