We Demand a Fair Deal for Working People

In the 1970s, the average UK worker could afford:

A modest home
Rent or mortgage payments without being financially stretched
Food, bills, and transport
A holiday once a year
The ability to save for the future

This was often achievable on a single income.

That standard of living, when adjusted for inflation, should still be attainable today—but it is not.

The Reality in 2025 Today, even full-time workers are struggling to afford the basics. Many cannot pay rent, cover bills, or put food on the table without going into debt. Even those working 60 to 80 hour weeks—including NHS staff and other essential workers saving lives—cannot afford to live securely or comfortably.

The average wage in 1975 was £2,800 per year. Adjusted for inflation, that equals around £25,000 to £30,000 today. But due to the soaring costs of housing, energy, food, and transport, this income no longer provides the same standard of living.

To truly match the standard of living from the 1970s, the average full-time wage today would need to be around £45,000 to £55,000 per year.

What We Are Calling For

We call on the UK Government to take urgent action and recognise a Real Living Income — Base wage and tax policy on the actual cost of living. A fair average full-time wage in today’s economy should fall between £45,000 and £55,000 per year.

Make Essentials Affordable — Implement serious measures to reduce the cost of:

Housing (through rent controls, affordable housing, and support for first-time buyers)
Utilities and energy
Childcare, food, and transport

Reform Wages and Tax — Raise the personal tax allowance and increase the minimum wage to reflect what people need to live with dignity.

Sign This Petition

We, the undersigned, believe that working people deserve to live—not just survive. No one should work full-time, let alone 60 to 80 hours per week, and still be unable to afford the basics.

We demand a new social contract—one that ensures decent pay, affordable living, and a future worth working for, without this homelessness will skyrocket potentially leading to dangerous streets, drug use, and robberies as we have seen in previous years.

Make living affordable again. Give working people a real living wage and a real chance at a decent life.