‘A slap in the face’ – opposition Portsmouth politicians and education leaders slam government's pay freeze decision

In a statement to Parliament chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed the pay of public sector workers will be frozen next year for anyone earning over £24,000 – below this amount workers can expect a rise of at least £250.

While NHS workers will be exempt from the freeze the decision has sparked anger over ‘a lack of respect’ for other front-line workers such as teachers, care workers and police officers who’ve risked their own health during the pandemic only to be rewarded with a real-terms pay cut.

Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: ‘While I’m pleased it has been recognised people on the lowest incomes need some sort of rise – small though it is – it’s a real slap in the face for those public sector workers who’ve worked so hard to keep communities safe and functioning during the pandemic.

‘I think the decision shows how out of touch ministers are with real life.’

While the council leader accepts the need to offset the financial impact of the pandemic he believed ‘there were other decisions which could have been made such as raising capital gains tax’.

Portsmouth South MP, Stephen Morgan, highlighted the irony of the government backed weekly clap of appreciation for key workers being followed by a pay freeze.

Mr Morgan said: ‘We cannot be clapping for our front-line workers one week, then freezing their pay the next, when so many have made incredible sacrifices to keep us safe and secure.

‘This freeze will hit people’s pockets and pull spending out of our city’s small businesses when many are already on their knees, choking off the recovery.’

With the government placing a strong emphasis on the need to keep schools open and teachers asked to continue to risk their own health in order to do so, one of the region’s leading headteachers feels it has left the profession feeling undervalued and shortchanged.

Horndean Technology College headteacher Julie Summerfield, commented: ‘Teachers and support staff are putting themselves in danger to keep schools open – I have a number who have contracted Covid.

‘Because teaching is seen as a vocation the government know we will just get on with the job but this decision just shows how much we are really valued.’

It’s a sentiment shared by Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet member for education, Suzy Horton, who described the decision as ‘disrespectful’ after teaching staff ‘have put their own health in jeopardy to keep schools going’.

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However, with the UK’s economy expected to shrink by 11.3 per cent this year the decision has been defended by the region’s Conservative MPs.

Minister of State for Health and Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage commented: ‘These are desperate times and the average private sector worker has seen wages drop by one per cent this year while public sector wages increased four per cent.

‘Despite the dire economic situation, I'm glad the majority of public sector workers will receive an increase in their pay, including over one million NHS staff, as well the lowest paid.’

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt added: ‘Doctors and nurses will get a pay rise and it’s good guarantees have been given about the lowest paid public sector workers. We should remember the vast majority of care workers are in the private sectors and some will be covered by the increase in the national living wage.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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