On 28 October 2026 the government announced minimum wage rates from April 2027 (£13.21, £11.27, £8.31 and £8.31) and said it accepted the Low Pay Commission's recommendations in full, GOV.UK shows, and BBC News reports the rates.
Hunch. This is the first year the commission works to a new brief that puts young people's jobs first, so six years of full acceptance are a less sure guide.
The full acceptance market resolves on GOV.UK, in the government's announcement of minimum wage rates from April 2027 and the Low Pay Commission's report: YES if by the end of 28 October 2026 the government announces all the new rates and each one equals the commission's advice, and NO if any rate differs or no rates are announced by then. BBC News and The Guardian settle it if the official pages cannot be read.
We looked for cases where the government set new minimum pay rates after advice from the Low Pay Commission, while the adult rate aimed at two thirds of the middle hourly wage. We found six such decisions, for April 2021 to April 2026. Each time ministers took every rate the commission advised. They announced them on the day of the autumn Budget or statement, or one or two days before.