Labour launch new law to shame Tories into giving NHS staff a proper pay rise

Tory MPs would be forced to vote through a pay rise of less than 2.1% for doctors, nurses and midwives under plans unveiled yesterday.

Labour's Carolyn Harris tabled a Ten Minute Rule Bill which, if approved, would mean the Government would have to report to Parliament on an NHS pay deal for a rise of below 2.1% – and vote on the level of the hike.

Her Bill is designed at shaming the Conservatives over the planned 1% wage rise for coronavirus frontline heroes.

Boris Jonson recommended the salary lift, which is a real-terms cut if inflation goes over 1% as economic forecasters predict.

Insisting doctors, nurses and other health staff deserved more than the rise on offer given their performance when the health service was under pressure from the coronavirus crisis, Ms Harris said: “Our NHS staff have not faltered since the start of the pandemic and they deserve to be rewarded for that.”

Labour's Carolyn Harris tabled a Ten Minute Rule Bill which, if approved, would mean the Government would have to report to Parliament (Parliament Live)

Speaking in the Commons, she added: “Nurses and NHS Staff were promised at least a 2.1% pay increase but the Government has now retracted that – and recommended 1% for all NHS staff with the exception of junior doctors, GPs and dentists.

“The Government pretend this a rise – they’re fooling no-one.”

Pointing out the original plan was for a 2.1% rise, she added: “If the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues have now rescinded that offer and replaced it with an inferior one, then they need to come to this House with the revised recommendation and put it to a vote.”

An independent pay review body is examining the Government's recommendation and will issue its own advice on the level of a rise next month.

Outlining the impact of her legislation, Ms Harris said: “With this Bill the Government will be required to present their recommendations for anything below the already approved minimum increase of 2.1% and seek agreement, from the House, of any new proposal.

“That is the least our NHS deserves.”

MPs backed the First Reading of her NHS Pay Award Bill by 222 votes to nil after Tory MPs abstained.

But it is unlikely to become law without government support.