Public staff are 10% better off says Hammond in pay rise row
“But when you take into account the very generous contributions public sector employers have to pay into their workers’ pensions – their very generous pensions – they are still about 10 per cent ahead.”
His comments came at a sensitive time for the Government which is under pressure to end the one per cent pay cap for public sector workers after seven years of austerity.
However, the Chancellor, who is widely thought to have led the opposition in Government to any relaxation, did hint that it was an SHADOW chancellor John McDonnell was branded a “disgrace” yesterday after he repeated claims that the victims of Grenfell Tower were “murdered”.
Jeremy Corbyn’s senior lieutenant had reportedly apologised for the claim earlier this week, Labour sources said.
But yesterday the hard-Left MP issue ministers were prepared to look at. “We do keep this under constant review. And the fact that the Cabinet – apparently now well known – has been discussing this issue sends a clear signal that we do understand the concern both of public sector workers and of the wider public,” he said.
John O’Connell of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The Chancellor is absolutely right to highlight public denied apologising and quoted Friedrich Engels, co-founder of Marxism, in claiming those responsible for the tower block in Kensington, including ministers, were guilty of “social murder”.
Asked if he regretted saying an estimated 80 people in Grenfell Tower were “murdered” by political decisions, Mr McDonnell sector pensions as part of the pay debate. They are far more generous than the deals offered in most of the private sector, and they mean our children and grandchildren are on the hook for enormous liabilities.
“It’s of course right that those working hard in essential services, often doing tough and dangerous jobs, are paid appropriately.”
Earlier Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell added to the replied: “No, I don’t regret that. Political decisions were made which resulted in the deaths of these people. That’s a scandal.
“There’s a long history in this country of the concept of social murder where decisions are made with no regard to consequences, and as a result people have suffered. Social £350billion spending commitments of his party by promising a backdated public sector wage hike.
He said there would be a pay rise to “compensate” for seven years of austerity.
With reported in-fighting within Cabinet over pay policy, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith insisted yesterday that there will not be a leadership election until Brexit is completed. Mr Duncan Smith,
MCDONNELL ‘DISGRACEFUL’ FOR REPEATING CLAIM GRENFELL TOWER DISASTER WAS ‘MURDER’
murder has occurred in this incidence and I believe people should be accountable.”
Chancellor Philip Hammond said later: “It is a disgraceful suggestion in line with many other things John McDonnell has said over the years.
“There is absolutely not a shred of evidence to support that.” whose own leadership was undermined by party battles, said “there is no mood among the backbenchers” for a contest after a bruising General Election campaign.
He also said the Prime Minister has indicated she will quit some time after completing Brexit.
In a separate move Mr McDonnell appeared to contradict suggestions by his party leader Jeremy Corbyn who promised to pay off students’ tuition-fee debts. The shadow chancellor said the pledge was in reality just an “ambition”.
But Education Secretary Justine Greening said: “Jeremy Corbyn and Labour have not been honest with young people.
“During the election campaign Corbyn promised students he would wipe out tuition fee loans, at a total cost of £100billion.
“Now his chief lieutenants have performed a U-turn on this commitment. Young people will see this as a betrayal.”