Nurses and doctors spared public sector wage freeze

PUBLIC sector pay will be frozen next year – but nurses, doctors and the lowest-paid will still get a rise, Rishi Sunak said yesterday.

The Chancellor said he could not justify a ‘significant, across-the-board’ hike for the public sector given the difficulties faced by private firms.

Many businesses, particularly in retail and hospitality, have been devastated by the virus and lockdowns – while public sector workers have been largely protected from job losses and pay cuts.

Mr Sunak revealed that in the six months to September, private sector wages fell by nearly 1 per cent year-on-year, while public sector wages were up nearly 4 per cent.

As a result, the Chancellor said he would ‘pause’ pay rises for many in the public sector, with the move likely to affect police officers, teachers and civil servants.

However, NHS workers including nurses and doctors and the lowest paid will receive an increase.

Mr Sunak told MPs: ‘ Coronavirus has deepened the disparity between public and private sector wages. In such a difficult context for the private sector, especially for those people working in sectors like retail, hospitality and leisure, I cannot

‘Sledgehammer to consumer confidence’

justify a significant across-the-board pay increase for all public sector workers.

‘Instead, we are targeting our resources at those who need it most.’

Setting out his plans in detail, Mr Sunak said more than a million NHS workers would receive a rise.

Also, another two million public sector workers who receive less than the median salary of £24,000 – about 38 per cent of the total number – would gain by at least £250. Together, this means that more than half of public sector workers overall will see their pay go up.

Despite this, the announcement yesterday triggered a furious backlash from unions and opposition MPs.

The Police Federation said that the pay freeze was an insult for rank and file officers who had been on the front line in the fight against so-called Covidiots who disregard curfews.

Its national chairman, John Apter, said: ‘After years of austerity and a real terms pay cut of 18 per cent, today’s news will be a kick in the teeth for police officers. This year my colleagues have been on the front line in the battle against Covid-19, protecting the public and putting their own safety and the safety of their families at risk.’

Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds condemned the pay freeze and claimed the Spending Review would hurt consumer confidence.

She told the Commons: ‘Earlier this year the Chancellor stood on his doorstep and clapped for key workers.

‘ Today his Government institutes a pay freeze for many of them. This takes a sledgehammer to consumer confidence.’

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn suggested civil servants should receive a 10 per cent pay increase, but Mr Sunak said he did not recognise his numbers.

The Unite union said the deal was a ‘body blow’ to public sector workers and accused the Chancellor of ‘divide and rule’ tactics.

Rehana Azam, national officer of the GMB union, said the freeze would ‘hit key workers who have risked everything during the pandemic’.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said the freeze would ‘level down’ Britain as it hits key worker pay.

The FDA union, which represents civil servants, said that the announcement was a ‘return to austerity’.