Claims Sunak blocked progress on doctors’ pay deals ‘untrue’, says No10
Downing Street has rejected claims that Rishi Sunak has personally blocked progress to secure a deal to end doctors’ strikes.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Downing Street has rejected claims that Rishi Sunak personally blocked progress to secure a deal to end doctors’ strikes.
It follows a report in The Guardian, which cited sources describing the Prime Minister as a “blocker” last year in progressing talks with consultants and junior doctors, amid fears improved offers could prompt calls for higher pay elsewhere.
A Government spokeswoman said: “These reports are untrue.
“Junior doctors have been given a fair pay increase averaging 8.8%. On top of that pay increase, we have also offered further investment for junior doctors during the latest negotiations.
“If they come back to the table with reasonable expectations then we remain hopeful of finding a way forward.
“We want everyone to focus on patients and cutting waiting times for them, and urge the BMA to work with us in the interests of patients.”
Junior doctors remain in dispute over pay and conditions, while senior hospital doctors last month narrowly rejected a deal that would have seen medics receive a pay rise of between 6% and 19.6%.
Mr Sunak this week admitted that he has failed on his pledge to cut NHS waiting lists after months of walkouts by NHS staff.
The Prime Minister last year made cutting the number of patients waiting for treatment one of the five key priorities of his leadership.
Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting accused Mr Sunak of “blocking a deal so he can blame NHS staff for the crisis in the NHS, instead of taking responsibility himself”.