Further strikes would be an ‘act of self-harm’ and damage the economy, says minister
A government minister has appealed to the public sector not to carry out further strikes, saying it would be “an act of self-harm” for the economy.
Speaking to Sky News, Robert Jenrick said international factors are “beginning tentatively to work in the right direction”, with energy and fuel prices starting to fall.
But he said it would be “the worst thing that we could do” if the government met the demands of trade unions to increase pay by double-figures, claiming it would “entrench inflation in the British economy and get into a kind of wage spiral that would be very detrimental to the economy”.
Politics live: Health secretary tells nurses pay rise would mean ‘cutting patient care’
The minister’s remarks come as thousands of nurses stage their latest walkout in England in an increasingly bitter battle with the government.
Nursing staff from more than 55 NHS trusts will take part in industrial action today, with two further strikes to be held next month, as the Royal College of Nursing continues to fight for a 5% above inflation pay rise – though it has hinted it will accept a lower offer.
Head of the union Pat Cullen, said: “People aren’t dying because nurses are striking. Nurses are striking because people are dying.”
Thousands of Environment Agency staff across England are also taking industrial action today, including river inspectors, flood forecasting officers, coastal risk management officers, sewage plant attendants and staff at the Thames Barrier.
Mr Jenrick spoke to Kay Burley as the latest inflation figures for the UK were announced – easing slightly from 10.7% in November to 10.5%.
“We want to be as reasonable as possible,” he said. “[Health Secretary] Steve Barclay and other ministers have been meeting with union representatives to talk to them to see if there are ways forward to discuss next year’s pay settlement and set out arguments on affordability there. “
Thousands of nurses are staging walkouts in England today over pay and conditions.
Asked what his message to public sector unions would be when it comes to further strike action, the minister said: “Think about the impact that is going to have on working people across the country and on the economy.
“We know that times are difficult right now. What we don’t want to see is the economy harmed by an act of self-harm, by further strike action that makes it harder to get to work, to cross the border and of course, to get access to crucial public services.”
But Ms Cullen told the BBC: “We can either have our focus totally on balancing the books or we can continue to respect and treat this NHS as it should be for every single patient right throughout the country.
“We have to address the crisis within the NHS. You will only do that by paying nurses a decent wage and filling the 47,000 unfilled posts that our nurses are feeling every single day missing from the health service.”
More strikes are coming down the line, with coordinated industrial action planned by teachers, train drivers and civil servants on 1 February.
Mick Wheelan, general secretary of Aslef – which represents train drivers – said his union was further away from a deal than at any point because of “the behaviours of the other side’s negotiating team”.
He told Sky News: “I’ve never been in a process where people are being so underhand and deceitful and I’ve being negotiating at all levels in this industry for about 38 years.”
‘Dug into trenches’
Mr Wheelan insisted his union was still open to further talks to find a resolution, but he criticised moves by the government to bring in anti-strike laws and make unions the enemy.
“We have a government that’s fundamentally failing the public because every time they talk about trade unions, they talk about workers and the public as if they’re two different people,” he added.
“The voters of this country are the people that go to work every day in these sectors and have that dissatisfaction across that many areas at one time. That tells us that the government’s got the policy wrong.”
Labour’s Emily Thornberry called the current situation with strikes “a mess” and blamed the government for leaving negotiations “until the very last minute”.
The shadow attorney general told Sky News: “They were posturing for such a long time, saying they were going to be hard and they weren’t going to talk and they weren’t prepared to negotiate. And now they say they are.
“But I do think that people have got themselves dug into different trenches now and it’s really hard to get out of it.”
Sky News is hosting a debate on the future of the NHS, live from University Hospital Coventry, on Thursday 26 January. If you would like to be a member of the live studio audience please apply here.
If you are an NHS worker and would like to share your experiences with us anonymously, please email NHSstories@sky.uk
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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