Sadiq Khan raises London living wage and rolls out Night Tube across more lines

Sadiq Khan today increased the London living wage as he announced a further extension of nighttime tube services before the end of the year.

The capital’s living wage is to be hiked to £9.75 an hour, the mayor said, in the midst of a packed week in which he has also held a Q&A session with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

The announcement of a raise in the voluntary rate, which has benefited more than 60,000 low-paid workers since its 2011 introduction, came on the first day of Living Wage week. Its new rate is far higher than the £9 “living wage” that will become the minimum rate by 2020 under current Government plans.

“It’s great news that London is leading the way in paying the living wage. I’m glad to say we’re well on track to see it rise to over £10 an hour during my mayoralty, but we need to go further,” Khan said yesterday. “Our economy continues to grow and for the first time in London’s history we now have over one million businesses based here.

“It’s essential that hard-working Londoners, who keep this city going, are rewarded for their integral role in this success.

“As many employers already accredited know, the benefits are clear – including increased productivity and reduced staff turnover. I’ll be working to encourage more businesses across our great city to get involved.”

Khan, who was elected in May with the biggest personal vote ever for a British politician, has already overseen the introduction of a 24 hour tube service at weekends, and this morning confirmed that the Piccadilly Line would also be brought into the service. The Night Tube will be rolled out onto the Piccadilly Line from December 16, and the weekend service will run between Cockfosters and Heathrow Terminal 5.

It will join the Victoria, Central and Jubilee lines, which already function with a Night Tube service, and the Northern Line, which will get one on November 18.

Under Boris Johnson’s mayoralty, the introduction of the Night Tube was hit by a series of delays, amid disputes with trade unions.

The Labour Mayor of London yesterday hosted John Kerry at City Hall to take part in a question and answer session with young people from the capital. You can watch the full event below.