When Boris Johnson was struck down by Covid, he heaped praise on the “brilliant” nurses who saved his life.
But one of those who cared for the Prime Minister, Jenny McGee, is now quitting in protest at the Government’s lack of respect
for NHS employees.
She is one of thousands of nurses who are leaving the profession they love.
Their decision is entirely understandable.
The Prime Minister experienced first hand the professionalism of NHS staff.
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And he saw how they put themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives of others.
Each week the Prime Minister joined the country as we clapped our front-line workers.
But if he were genuinely grateful, he would not have offered NHS staff a paltry 1% pay rise.
Scotland has offered its nurses a 4% pay rise on top of a £500 thank-you payment.
If Mr Johnson genuinely cared for the staff who looked after him, he would do the same.
UK’s shame
The extent of child poverty in Britain should be a matter of national shame.
Since the Conservatives came to power, the number of children living in deprivation has risen by 500,000 to 4.3 million.
This figure is set to rise still further because of the economic toll the pandemic has taken.
Campaigners warn child poverty is rising at an alarming rate in the North East, where more than a third of kids now live in hardship.
They are innocent victims of the Conservative Government’s failure to provide secure, well-paid work, and a broken benefits system.
If Boris Johnson’s promise of “levelling up” means anything, it should mean giving every child the right to grow up without hunger.
Rays of hope
Sunshine-starved Brits have booked up every hotel room available at some Portuguese resorts this half-term.
Good for them.
But for those of us unable to have an overseas break, here’s hoping the UK soon gets some sunshine too.
