New Oxfordshire Living Wage calls made in ‘expensive’ county

Labour shadow cabinet member for resources Glynis Phillips will call on the county council to introduce an Oxfordshire Living Wage.

An Oxford Living Wage was introduced in 2018 by the city council, and it will rise to £14.06 from April 2026.

The Oxford Living Wage is a voluntary rate set above the statutory National Living Wage, designed to ensure workers can meet everyday living costs in one of the UK’s most expensive cities.

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Ms Phillips will put forward the new Oxon living wage at a county council meeting next week.

She said that in 2025/6, Oxfordshire County Council‘s lowest paid staff earned £980 less than if an Oxford Living Wage was in place.

And that by introducing the higher wage for all county council staff outside the city, a new wage would reflect “the real cost of living” in Oxfordshire.

Ms Phillips’ will argue: “Paying the Oxford Living Wage helps tackle in-work poverty, improves staff wellbeing and retention, and supports local economic resilience.

“Extending to all suppliers, service-providers and contractors, via inclusion in all contracts, will multiply the impact.

“From April 2026, the Oxford Living Wage, a voluntary rate set at 95 per cent of the London Living Wage, will be £14.06 an hour.

“It recognises the high cost of living in Oxford, costs that Oxfordshire County Council workers must meet.

“This council aims for a healthier, fairer and greener county, one that delivers real social value: paying all staff a living wage is fundamental.”

The idea will be discussed with a decision made at the full council meeting on March 24.