When nurses cannot afford the bus to work and turn to food banks to feed their families, it is obvious they need a pay rise.
Low pay is one of the reasons why 40,000 nurses – one in nine of the workforce – have left the NHS in the last year.
The RCN in England is now taking industrial action for the first time in its 106-year history because Tory ministers have refused to recognise their plight.
It is disgraceful the RCN has been obliged to take this step. Health Secretary Steve Barclay should be doing everything he can to prevent the strikes from going ahead.
Instead of seeking urgent talks with unions, he has inflamed tensions by dismissing their demands. He claims the rise is “unaffordable”.
This is not about the cost but priorities.
If Chancellor Jeremy Hunt can find the money to cut taxes for bankers he can find the money to give nurses a pay rise.
If the Tories valued the NHS they would value the staff who put their lives at risk during Covid and work every day to care for patients.
Raab rumble
With each passing day more and more reports emerge of alleged bullying by Dominic Raab.
An investigation is looking into three allegations against the Justice Secretary but this could be the tip of the iceberg.
According to the BBC, the Ministry of Justice has been “inundated” with complaints.
The “independent” probe ordered by Rishi Sunak is nothing of the sort when only the Prime Minister can decide the terms of reference and is the final arbiter of the findings.
A proper inquiry is needed. And its remit should include whether Mr Sunak was warned of the allegations before he appointed him.
Shire is tasty
Barnsley's Victoria Rushton cooked up a storm with her giant Yorkshire pudding.
Mirror writer Vikki White tried to go one batter but didn’t quite rise to the challenge.
