Gov't Facing Tough Parliamentary Session With UQ Granted On NHS Wage Rise

Labour's shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth has been granted an urgent question by the Commons speaker relating to the proposed 1% pay rise for NHS workers, which risks becoming a major issue for the gov't following last week's budget.

• Initial reaction to Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Budget statement seemed broadly positive, but this has soured in recent days after healthcare workers trade unions took umbrage with the 1% pay rise offered by the gov't, arguing that the high-stress and risky working environment for NHS workers during the pandemic warrants a greater increase.
• The gov't has stated that the 1% increase is the most that the Treasury can afford given the parlous state of the country's finances. Some observers have raised the point that the 1% pay rise is being rebuffed while thousands in the private sector experience wage cuts or redundancy.
• So far ministers have held fast against offering a greater increase, but with the argument showing no sign of resolving itself (the nurses union has set up a fund in anticipation of a potential strike) the Treasury and No.10 may be forced into a U-turn.