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Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, demanded MPs to vote on pay increases for NHS workers. He accused Boris Johnson of “breaking promise after promise”: the Government has proposed giving NHS staff a 1 per cent pay rise, despite an expectation of 2.1 per cent.
The promised pay increase for NHS workers
Prime Minister Boris Johnson repeatedly claimed a pay increase would be delivered for NHS workers. But Sir Keir told the Commons that a 1% rise versus 1.7% inflation rise was, actually, a cut.
Furthermore, he attacked Johnson, saying thay he was choosing to “shut the door” in NHS workers’ faces, even tough he previously clapped for them. Starmer also said that the Conservatives just wanted to cut wages for nurses and put taxes up for families.
Moreover, Starmer also said that two years ago Johnson made a promise to the NHS. He said that Boris Johnson wanted to give to NHS workers a pay rise of 2.1 per cent. The Prime Minister budgeted for this rise, but now he has decided to take it away.
Boris Johnson’s reply
The Prime Minister said that the last time the Parliament put the pay increase to a vote, Starmer voted against it. He also stated that his Government is increasing pay for nurses, and it’s also increasing the investments in the NHS. Johnson also attacked Starmer, saying that the Government was steering a steady course, whereas Starmer just weaves from one week to the next.
The Prime Minister also said that Starmer voted against the document about the 2.1% pay rise for NHS workers.
The response of the Parliament
Also Tory MPs have joined the backlash against the proposals againsts the 1% pay increase for NHS workers. One of them branded it as “inept”, another as “unacceptable” and a third one as “pathetic”. They said that this proposas risks damaging the Government’s standing on its support for the health service.