George Eustice dismisses Dua Lipa’s call for NHS pay rise

Cabinet minister George Eustice today dismissed a call made by the singer Dua Lipa for a ‘fair pay rise’ for NHS workers. 

Lipa made the call at the Brit Awards in London last night as she said ‘it’s very good to clap for them [NHS workers], but we need to pay them’. 

But the Environment Secretary said this morning a pay rise for NHS staff in England had already been announced and ‘difficult times’ caused by the coronavirus pandemic meant ‘most of the public sector’ had suffered a pay freeze. 

The Government has recommended a one per cent pay rise for most hospital workers in England in a move which has sparked a sustained backlash and accusations it is not generous enough.     

Mr Eustice told BBC Breakfast: ‘There’s been a pay rise, it was announced. 

‘There’s been a pay freeze for most of the public sector and it’s also important to recognise that in recent years that there have been some pay rises as well, particularly for nurses and the lower paid.

‘We know that it is a difficult public finance environment as well, so we can’t always go as far as you’d like, but it’s also the case that there’s a pay review that’s going on into the NHS.’

Mr Eustice added: ‘That initial pay rise is something that was made available for the NHS. In most other parts of the public sector was actually a pay freeze during these difficult times.’   

The Government proposed a one per cent pay rise for most hospital staff, with an independent pay review body currently examining the proposal. 

A final decision on the pay rise is expected this month after the panel publishes its recommendations.    

Asked if the Government will agree to a pay rise bigger than one per cent should the review body recommend it, Mr Eustice said: ‘Once the pay review has concluded then obviously I know that Matt Hancock and the Prime Minister and others in Government will obviously look at that and reflect on it before deciding. 

‘I am not going to get into a position here on your programme prejudging what they may or may not do because there will be a lot of other factors that they need to balance. 

‘But the right thing to do is to have that pay review and then make the decision after.’ 

He also accepted that a one per cent pay rise actually amounts to a pay cut because of a likely increase in inflation. 

‘Well, the way that these things are calculated, if it is lower than inflation then yes, the way people would say that in real terms it is not an increase,’ he said. 

‘But it is an increase in cash terms and that is, as I say, one of the few areas of the public sector that have seen such an increase.’  

Lipa won best female solo artist and the best album award at last night’s awards as she used her acceptance speech to call for a pay rise for NHS staff.  

She said: ‘It’s very good to clap for them, but we need to pay them.

‘I think what we should do is we should all give a massive, massive round of applause and give Boris (Johnson) a message that we all support a fair pay rise for our front line.’