Government stands firm as pressure grows to scrap public sector pay cap

Downing Street has insisted there is no change in policy on the public sector pay cap, after a minister told the House of Commons there was an “active discussion” under way to ensure frontline workers are paid fairly.

Policing minister Nick Hurd’s comments came after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called for a wage boost for public sector workers who have been subject to a 1 per cent cap on annual pay rises since 2012, following a twoyear freeze.

Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Theresa May and Chancellor Philip Hammond to relax austerity, with several Tory MPS calling for an end to the pay cap after the party lost its majority in the general election to Labour, which has pledged to scrap the 1 per cent ceiling.

During Home Office Questions in the Commons yesterday, Mr Hurd was challenged by Labour shadow policing minister, Louise Haigh, over whether he supported the planned continuation of the cap until 2019-20.

He said: “We want to make sure that frontline public service workers, including the police, are paid fairly for their work.”

Responding to Mr Hurd’s comments, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “There are public sector pay review bodies carrying out their work. “We are in the process of working through recommendations. That is what the minister was referring to.”