Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Minister urges unions to accept government in ‘very challenging position’ over public sector pay
A government minister has called on trade unions to acknowledge the difficult circumstances the government is navigating regarding public sector wages. This appeal follows a report indicating that proposed pay offers for teachers and nurses might lead to potential strikes.
Stephen Kinnock, the care minister, responded to a report in The Times, which suggested that public sector workers could receive pay increases exceeding inflation. However, these increases would need to be funded through departmental savings, a move some unions oppose.
In The Times, authors Steven Swinford and Chris Smyth reported:
Millions of public sector employees, including teachers and nurses, are recommended for pay increases of up to 4 percent, escalating pressure on Rachel Reeves.
The independent pay review body advocating for 514,000 teachers suggested a nearly 4 percent increase, while the review for 1.38 million NHS workers recommended a raise closer to 3 percent.
These proposed increases for England substantially exceed the 2.8 percent the government had budgeted, further straining public finances. Schools and hospitals will need to uncover efficiency savings to cover part of these costs.
Swinford and Smyth reported that the NEU and NASUWT teaching unions have cautioned they may initiate strike action unless schools receive additional funding to meet teacher salary increases. Similarly, nurses have not excluded the possibility of striking.
Kinnock confirmed during a government media round that the administration is considering the recommendations of the pay review body and did not dismiss the figures reported by The Times.
In reference to the previous government’s confrontational approach, Kinnock conveyed to Times Radio a desire for a constructive dialogue with the unions, emphasizing collaboration rather than performance-driven tactics.
He expressed hope that unions would understand the government’s “very challenging position,” stating:
We are committed to supporting the working population nationwide. However, it is crucial to ensure that any pay agreement adheres to fiscal constraints. Our financial position is quite tight, and I hope our counterparts in the trade union movement recognize this.
Share
Updated at 11.09 CEST
Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Local elections will confirm five-party politics now the ‘new norm’, Prof John Curtice says
Prof Sir John Curtice, an expert on elections, conveyed on the BBC’s Today programme his observations regarding the unpredictability of this year’s local elections in England due to competition among five parties. He remarked:
It is highly probable that the outcomes we witness on Friday, when most local council results are announced, will reveal many councillors elected with very small portions of the vote. This election showcases five serious political contenders: Reform at 25 percent in national polls, Labour at 24 percent, and Conservatives at 22 percent.
The Liberal Democrats stand at 14 percent, with the Greens at 9 percent, though they often perform better in local than in national elections. Thus, we are indeed seeing five significant competitors.
Curtice predicted this trend would likely result in a majority of councils ending up without a single party in control.
When asked if five-party politics has become the “new norm,” he responded:
It does seem to be our current reality.
Many observers overlooked the fact that the most recent general election marked the first time in UK history that five parties competed almost everywhere.
Established parties like the Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Conservatives have extensive national organizations, while the Greens have developed a significant presence. Reform, who had previously only put forward symbolic candidates, is now actively building a local organization, fighting more seats than any other party at this election cycle.
Also queried on Labour’s performance prediction, Curtice noted, “No new government has experienced such a rapid decline in support as Labour has.” However, he acknowledged that the council seats currently contested were last up for election in May 2021, during a time of Conservative popularity.
Share
Parents to save £50 per year from law restricting right of schools to require branded uniform items, DfE says
The government announced that the introduction of a new law would make school uniforms more affordable for parents of four million children. As reported by PA Media, the Department for Education asserts its children’s wellbeing and schools bill will reduce uniform costs for families by £70 million.
Concerns have been previously raised by MPs regarding the high costs associated with branded uniform items.
Schools will be mandated to limit the branded items they require, yet a recent survey indicates they are not complying; parents spend an average of £442 on secondary school uniforms and £343 on primary school uniforms.
As the House of Lords continues examining the bill, the government maintains that it will effectively lower school uniform expenses by restricting the number of branded items required to three, excluding school ties.
The new uniform regulations are projected to save parents £50 annually during back-to-school shopping, as stated by the DfE.
Share
Badenoch says trans people can use disabled toilets, after EHRC says they are banned from toilets they identify with
Kemi Badenoch posited that transgender individuals may utilize disabled toilets following a significant supreme court ruling on gender interpretation.
In a discussion on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Badenoch expressed feeling vindicated by the ruling, which specified that ‘woman’ should refer to biological women in equality legislation.
In the aftermath of the judicial decision, the Equality and Human Rights Commission released interim guidance clarifying the implications of this ruling, stating:
In public workplaces and services … trans women (biological males) should not use women’s facilities, nor should trans men (biological females) access men’s facilities, as this could compromise the single-sex nature of these spaces.
The guidance further emphasizes that “when facilities exist for both genders, trans individuals should not be left without suitable options.” It suggests providing unisex or mixed facilities where feasible.
In a recent interview, Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister, mentioned he was against the idea of “toilet police,” though noted that the ruling implies transgender individuals may not use the restrooms corresponding to their gender identity.
In her Good Morning Britain appearance, Badenoch criticized prior misleading information that trans people had received regarding their rights. She welcomed the supreme court’s clarification, asserting it aligned with her interpretation of the law.
Badenoch commented on guidance she issued two years ago when she was equalities minister, aimed at clarifying these issues. She stated:
This situation isn’t nearly as complex as represented. We’ve managed to address this issue successfully for a long time.
The primary challenge has not been trans individuals but rather predatory behavior where men exploited lax regulations to gain access to women’s facilities. I’ve received reports from women who experienced assaults in restrooms.
When asked about the necessity of separate restroom facilities for transgender people, Badenoch replied:
Most organizations already have measures in place to manage this.
Establishing gender-neutral restrooms is one of the simplest solutions.
Nearly all businesses have disabled restrooms, which are unisex and distinct from gender-neutral ones. Trans people may use these facilities.
However, single-sex spaces must remain strictly single-sex. The supreme court has affirmed, as I have always believed, that sex is determined biologically.
Minister urges unions to accept government in ‘very challenging position’ over public sector pay
A minister has urged trade unions to accept that the government is in a “challenging” situation, following a report claiming the pay offers for teachers and nurses could provoke strikes.
Stephen Kinnock, the care minister, was responding to a report in the Times suggesting that public sectors workers could be offered above-inflation pay rises – but with the increases having to be funded from departmental savings, which is opposed by some unions.
In their Times story, Steven Swinford and Chris Smyth say:
Millions of public sector workers including teachers and nurses should be given pay rises of as much as 4 percent, ministers have been told in a move that will put further pressure on Rachel Reeves.
The Times has been told that the independent pay review body representing 514,000 teachers has recommended a pay rise of close to 4 percent, while the one for 1.38 million NHS workers has recommended closer to 3 percent.
The pay rises, for England, are significantly more than the 2.8 percent that the government budgeted for and are likely to place further strain on public finances. Schools and hospitals will be told to find efficiency savings to help meet some of the costs.
Swinford and Smyth say the NEU and NASUWT teaching unions have both threatened strike action if schools do not get extra funding to pay for the salary increase for teachers. And nurses have also not ruled out further strike action, they say.
Kinnock, who was doing an interview round for the government this morning, confirmed that the government was looking at the pay review body recommendations, and did not deny the figures quoted by the Times.
Referring to the more confrontational approach taken by the Tories, Kinnock told Times Radio the government wanted “a proper grown-up conversation” with unions “where we sit around the table and hammer it out rather than all the performative nonsense that we saw under the previous government”.
He said he hoped that unions would recognise that the government was in a “very challenging position.” He said:
We’re very keen to support working people across the country. But of course, we do need to also ensure that any pay deal that is done is within the fiscal constraints. And it is a very tight financial position. And I’m very hopeful that our colleagues in the trade union movement will recognise that.
Share
Updated at 11.09 CEST
Ruth Perry’s sister joins calls to pause proposed Ofsted overhaul
The sister of a headteacher who tragically took her own life following a challenging Ofsted report has accused the government of disregarding a coroner’s findings by failing to amend the school inspection system, as reported by Matthew Weaver.
Share
Keir Starmer claims tech will take NHS out of ‘dark ages’ as report says A&E care worse than pre-Covid
As the countdown continues to this year’s local elections, with just three days left, this cycle is relatively low-profile. There are no elections occurring in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or London, with only about 1,600 council seats addressed. Despite this, these elections have been dubbed the most significant for a generation, as they could solidify Reform UK’s status as a substantial political entity. This may suggest the breakdown of the traditional two-party model, potentially leading to a four-party system, as termed a “20-20-20-20” distribution by the Economist—with Labour, Conservatives, Reform UK, and the Liberal Democrats each around 20%—or even a five-party setup including the Greens.
Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch have both scheduled campaign events today. Starmer aims to spotlight the NHS, boldly proclaiming on social media this morning that Labour intends to lead the NHS into a contemporary era.
Our NHS has been stuck in the dark ages — that ends now.
By embracing new technology and enhancing the NHS app, my administration will reduce waiting lists, expedite patient care, and lower costs for taxpayers.
Starmer’s statement accompanies a release detailing how the government’s efforts to expand the NHS app are driving efficiencies within the health system. The Department of Health and Social Care reported:
The latest statistics indicate that 1.5 million appointments have been preserved thanks to the rapid implementation of the NHS app, allowing for more convenient access to treatment.
Empowering patients to manage their appointments and view prescriptions directly contributes to reducing burdens on healthcare services while enhancing access to information.
The government’s drive has surpassed its initial target of having 85% of hospitals provide appointment information via the app, achieving 87% by the end of March, up from 68% in July 2024.
While this progress is encouraging, questions remain as to whether it signifies a complete exit from the so-called dark ages. The recent announcement aligns with a report from the Health Foundation, which indicates that A&E care in England has worsened compared to pre-Covid conditions. It stated:
This winter, the NHS struggled significantly. Only 73% of A&E patients received treatment within four hours, a stark contrast to the 95% constitutional goal. Record high instances of 12-hour waits before admission were documented alongside further delays in ambulance handovers.
Analysis highlighted that while severe, the recent conditions were consistent with those in prior years, challenging assertions attributing operational issues solely to external pressures.
This raises critical concerns regarding the ongoing operational difficulties within the NHS amid recurrent winter crises.
Looking ahead, here’s the day’s agenda.
Morning: Keir Starmer visits the north-west of England.
11am: Plaid Cymru unveils its economic strategy for Wales at an event in Ammanford.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a media briefing.
Morning: Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, campaigns in Melton Mowbray, with afternoon plans in Salisbury.
Early afternoon: Kemi Badenoch engages with media in Lincolnshire.
2.30pm: Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, conducts a session in the Commons.
2.30pm: John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, addresses the Scottish TUC conference.
Afternoon: Starmer meets with Mohammad Mustafa, prime minister of the Palestinian national authority, at Downing Street.
Source
www.theguardian.com