NEXT in Liverpool was targeted yesterday by campaigners demanding the chain pays its staff the living wage.

General union GMB activists have completed a nationwide tour of Next stores raising the profile of the union’s living-wage campaign, set at £7.65 an hour outside London and £8.80 in the capital.

It won widespread public support in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Glasgow, Salford, Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield, Birmingham, Hull and Liverpool.

GMB also wants guaranteed working hours to enable to staff to afford to live. 

The tour ended in Liverpool yesterday, coinciding with a visit by campaign supporters the reunited Beautiful South singers Paul Heaton and Jacquie Abbott, who are also touring.

Next employs 50,000 workers at more than 500 stores, call centres and warehouses in Britain and Ireland.

In March the group reported a 12 per cent increase in annual profits, up to £695 million, and expects profits this year to reach £770m. 

The company says it is generating more cash than it can invest in the business so will make a special £300m payout to shareholders.

Next pays £6.33 an hour to workers aged 21 and over and £5.47 to those aged 18 to 20. Rates increase by 37p an hour this month.

GMB retail national officer Mick Rix said: “GMB’s call on Next to pay wages and enough hours of work for people to live on got massive support all around the country.”