Chancellor branded 'morally bankrupt' by police chief over plan to freeze for public sector workers' pay

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly preparing to announce a limit on the pay of millions of council staff, civil servants, teachers, police and other public servants when he unveils his spending review next week.

Front line NHS doctors and nurses are expected to be exempt from any cap in recognition of their work during the coronavirus crisis.

Unions reacted angrily to the prospect of a wage freeze after such a tumultuous year, with one saying industrial action could not be ruled out.

Meanwhile the national head of the Police Federation of England and Wales said this move would be ‘morally bankrupt’ in light of the ‘sacrifices’ public sector workers have made during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as years of pay freezes already handed out.

John Apter, who used to head Hampshire Police Federation, said: ‘During the pandemic, government ministers have thanked and celebrated key workers in the public sector, even clapping on doorsteps to show their support.

‘To freeze their pay and penalise these same workers would be complete hypocrisy.’

Mr Apter added: ‘A pay freeze is not acceptable, and would be seen as a complete betrayal by this government.’

One union boss has since responded by saying industrial action ‘cannot be ruled out’, while the pay freeze speculation has been met with widespread anger from unions representing key worker professions.

Steve Torrance, regional secretary for Unison in the south east, said the pay freeze would be a ‘slap in the face'.

‘Reports of pay restraint for all but frontline NHS staff would be a cruel body blow to other health, social care and public service employees working tirelessly to get us through the pandemic,’ he said.

‘It would be a slap in the face to every worker who’s made sacrifices to keep essential public services going and is likely to backfire badly with the public.

‘The pandemic has highlighted who the key workers are in society and the government should reward and value the contribution those in the public sector have made to keeping us all safe, not apply another pay cap.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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