Pay rise promise for NHS staff

NHS workers who have been “undervalued, overworked and underpaid” by the Conservative Government will get a pay rise if Labour wins the election, the shadow health secretary will announce.

Jonathan Ashworth will say NHS staff have been “taken for granted” by the Tories with cuts to pay and training forcing workers out of the health service and putting off young people. This has led to short staffing which is a threat to patient safety, Mr Ashworth will say.

Labour will therefore lift the 1% cap on pay rises for NHS staff and move towards public sector wages being agreed through collective bargaining and the evidence of independent pay review bodies.

It will also legislate to require NHS trusts to have regard for patient safety when setting staffing levels.

At the Unison Health Conference in Liverpool, Mr Ashworth will say: “Our NHS staff are the very pride of Britain. Yet they are ignored, insulted, undervalued, overworked and underpaid by this Tory government. Not anymore. Enough is enough.”

Conservative health minister Philip Dunne said: “We’ve protected and increased the NHS budget and got thousands more staff in hospitals. But all that’s at risk with Jeremy Corbyn’s nonsensical economic policies that would mean less money for the NHS.”

Jon Skewes, of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “These are very welcome commitments from the Labour Party.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “We hope all the parties will make an election pledge to scrap the unfair pay restrictions and give our hardworking NHS staff the pay rise they deserve.” Ukip’s foreign affairs spokesman has quit his post in protest at leader Paul Nuttall’s plans to ban the burka.

Mr Nuttall, pictured, has sparked controversy with his proposal to outlaw the veil worn by some Muslim women, as well as banning sharia law and forcing girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) to face regular medical checks.

West Midlands MEP James Carver described the policy as “incompatible” with his desire to represent all of his constituents.