Keir Starmer’s Labour MPs defy him as nearly a dozen take to the picket lines to back striking doctors
- Starmer has refused to back demands from BMA for a 35 per cent pay increase
Nearly a dozen Labour MPs have defied Sir Keir Starmer by joining doctors’ picket lines.
It puts them on collision course with their leader who has refused to back demands from the British Medical Association for a 35 per cent pay rise.
Among those spotted on picket lines since Thursday, when the latest five-day strike began, are Zarah Sultana, Nadia Whittome, John McDonnell, Kate Osborne and Ian Byrne.
Former party leader Jeremy Corbyn has also been seen on a London picket line. Clive Lewis, Diane Abbott, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Richard Burgon, Kim Johnson and Sarah Champion gave their support on Twitter.
It is the latest sign of infighting, with Sir Keir already facing a backlash from his MPs over a U-turn on ruling out scrapping the two-child cap on child benefit.
Jeremy Corbyn (second left) and Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South (second right) on the picket line outside London Euston train station on August 18
Labour MP Nadia Whittome (red dress) joining the RMT picket line outside Nottingham railway station on Thursday June 25, 2022
Bell Ribeiro Addy MP (second left) joins striking PCS members on their picket line at Streatham Job Centre on February 1, 2023
Junior doctors have continued their strikes despite being given a pay rise of between 8.1 per cent and 10.3 per cent, which will see their basic salary increase to as much as £63,152. Some will earn more when overtime and performance pay are included.
READ MORE: Labour frontbenchers ‘threaten to quit’ as Keir Starmer is rocked by fresh infighting over dropping pledge to scrap two-child benefit cap
Mr McDonnell tweeted from a picket line in south London: ‘Proud to join health workers’ picket line at St Thomas’ Hospital in London to offer my full support to their campaign for decent wages.’
Ms Whittome posted: ‘Joined a rainy picket … in solidarity with the JuniorDoctorsStrike. Since 2008, junior doctors lost 26 per cent of their real-terms pay. A below-inflation 6 per cent offer is yet another pay cut.
‘They need a proper pay rise, funded by taxing the rich – not cuts or punishing migrants.’
And Ms Osborne tweeted from a picket line: ‘Government have forced doctors into striking with the deliberate destruction of our NHS and real-terms pay cuts every year. Solidarity in their fight for full pay restoration, safe working conditions and the NHS future.’
The BMA has also called four days of strikes by consultants. They will start a 48-hour walkout tomorrow and will strike again on August 24 and 25.
Only a Christmas Day level of cover, meaning emergency units will still be staffed, will be provided, forcing thousands of appointments to be scrapped. And the BMA has threatened more walkouts ‘in due course’.
Tory MP Paul Bristow, who sits on the Commons health committee, said: ‘Labour MPs demanding a 35 per cent pay increase, which they must know is unreasonable, is outrageous.
‘Labour is in the unions’ pockets and this is the sort of thing we’d be left vulnerable to with a future Labour government.’
A senior Tory source said: ‘Once again Labour are shown to be deeply divided on health. Starmer can’t control his hard-Left backbenchers from backing militant union demands.’
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