PM challenged to axe public sector pay cap
Shotts MP Neil Gray has challenged the Prime Minister to help public sector workers by removing the pay cap which has seen their real-time salaries drop in the last two years against inflation.
During a meeting with the public sector union PCS, and two constituents from Shotts and Calderbank, Mr Gray heard how the cap, for those working for UK Government departments, has meant that the workers are now struggling to make ends meet, with one taking early retirement and using his lump sum to pay bills.
Despite putting forward the real human cost of the policy, Mr Gray was unable to get a commitment from Boris Johnson on the issue, with Shotts MSP Alex Neil claiming the PM was “playing to the gallery by mocking the SNP’s name”.
Mr Gray said: “The Scottish Government has done what it can in its draft Scottish Budget to raise public sector pay but could do so much more if the UK Government lifted its pay freeze.
“At a meeting with the PCS recently, I heard from constituents in Calderbank and Shotts who work for UK Government departments and have suffered over a decade of real terms pay cuts.
“I was extremely disappointed that the Prime Minister refused to offer any solace to my constituents and instead praised himself and then went off on a tangent in an odd rant about the SNP’s name.
“The Prime Minister should be pledging to ensure everyone who has worked on the frontline during this pandemic should be properly rewarded.
“It is high time this UK Tory Government looked at the effect its policies are having on the general public and actually did something to help.”
Meanwhile, Mr Gray has welcomed proposals from the Scottish Government to given North Lanarkshire Council an additional £18.1 million in the coming financial year.
He said: “Finance Secretary Kate Forbes MSP is yet again showing that she has a good grasp of what is happening around the country.
“This additional money, an increase of 2.7 per cent, will help North Lanarkshire Council to meet its obligations without the need for extra, devastating cuts.
“With an extra amount available if it does not raise Council Tax, I hope that the council will look to make things a little easier for the area’s struggling residents and halt the proposed increase for next year.”