Rishi Sunak ‘sad and disappointed’ by strikes threatening Christmas getaways
Rishi Sunak has said he is “sad and disappointed” that strikes are threatening to disrupt Christmas getaways.
The prime minister admitted setting public sector pay was a “difficult question” but insisted that “the government has acted fairly and reasonably in accepting all the recommendations of the independent public sector pay review bodies”.
However, he did not explicitly rule out a one-off pay offer for striking NHS staff.
Asked if this was something he would consider to prevent further action, he said: “As the Health Secretary and I have previously said, our door is always open.
“There’s lots of things people have raised as things that we might make a difference to, and we’d be happy to talk about all those things.”
Moments after he finished speaking, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced nurses will strike again on 18 and 19 January and said further dates would be confirmed in the new year.
The union disputed Mr Sunak’s insistence that the government is open to talks.
The RCN tweeted: “Once again, we offered talks. Once again ministers refused to get round the table. Once again nursing staff are left with no choice. For the protection of our patients & profession, our next strike will take place on 18 & 19 January 2023.”
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen added: “The government had the opportunity to end this dispute before Christmas but instead they have chosen to push nursing staff out into the cold again in January.”
Hundreds of thousands of workers across many sectors of the economy have gone on strike or are planning to this winter as unions seek pay rises for their members during the cost of living crisis and soaring inflation.
Border Force staff at the UK’s busiest airports walked out today, threatening delays for air travellers.
Mr Sunak said: “I am sad and disappointed about the disruption that is being caused to so so many people’s lives, particularly at Christmas time.”
He urged everyone travelling to check before setting off to ensure they have minimum disruption to their journey.
Earlier, the leader of union behind the Border Force strikes warned travellers could face months of disruption unless the government comes forward with an improved pay offer.
PCS union general secretary Mark Serwotka told Sky News that the government had only offered a 2% pay rise, despite staff asking for a 10% increase to keep up with inflation.
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Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of PCS union, says civil servants are facing a ‘poverty crisis’
He added that 40,000 members of the Civil Service were using food banks, describing the situation as a “crisis of poverty”.
He also predicted a “huge escalation” in industrial action in January across the Civil Service unless ministers enter into negotiations.
“So anyone who faces disruption, you have a right to be angry, but your anger should be directed at Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt,” he said.
Speaking during a visit to a homeless shelter in London, Mr Sunak said inflation is “eating into everyone’s pay packets” and in order to reduce that he has to be “responsible about public sector pay”.
“In the long term it’s the right thing for the whole country that we beat inflation,” he said.
World
Major wildfire on Greek island of Chios leads to evacuations – as officials warn ‘situation remains critical’
Nearly 200 firefighters are battling a major wildfire on the Greek island of Chios.
The fire started on Sunday in three separate locations near the main town, which is also called Chios. The flames were fanned by strong winds and turned into one large blaze.
Local media footage and photos showed firefighters battling towering flames burning through woodland and farmland as night fell. Power cuts have also been reported.
Greek authorities sent fresh evacuation notifications for two areas near Chios town on Monday morning.
People watch a wildfire approaching. Pic: Politischios.gr /AP
Push alerts have been sent to mobile phones in the area urging people to evacuate a total of 16 villages, settlements and neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the town.
“The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which being near hamlets,” a Greek government spokesman said.
The fire department said 190 firefighters were trying to control the fire on Monday, with strong winds hampering their efforts.
Pic: Politischios/AP
Some 35 vehicles, five helicopters and two water-dropping planes were also involved in the effort.
A specialist fire department arson investigation team has been sent to the eastern Aegean island to look into the causes.
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Wildfires are common during Greece’s hot, dry summers but authorities have said climate change is fuelling bigger and more frequent blazes.
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Last year, hundreds of tourists and residents were forced to flee wildfires on the holiday island of Kos.
In 2023, forest fires killed at least 20 people in the north of the country and forced 19,000 people to flee the island of Rhodes.
World
22 killed after suicide bomber opens fire at church in Syria – and then detonates explosive vest
At least 22 people have been killed after a suicide bomber opened fire at a church in Syria – and then detonated an explosive vest.
This is the first such incident since Bashar al Assad was toppled in December, and officials claim the attacker was a member of Islamic State.
It happened at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, with estimates suggesting that 350 worshippers were praying there at the time.
Pic: White Helmets via Reuters
Witnesses said the perpetrator had his face covered when he began shooting – and blew himself up as crowds attempted to remove him from the building.
A security source told Reuters that two men were involved in the attack, with a priest saying he saw a second gunman at the entrance.
Officials say 63 people were injured, and children were among the casualties.
Syria’s information minister, Hamza Mostafa, condemned the terrorist attack – writing on X: “This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together.
“We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship… and we also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organisations.”
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Pic: Reuters
Reports suggest that IS has attempted to attack several churches in Syria since Assad fell, but this is the first time they have succeeded.
Footage filmed by Syria’s civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction inside the church – including bloodied floors and shattered pews.
The Greek foreign ministry says it “unequivocally condemns the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing”, and called on Syria “to guarantee the safety” of Christians with new measures.
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