Soldiers and nurses treated 'like dirt' after being given derisory 1% pay rise

Health workers ranging from doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives to cleaners and porters are to receive a 1% pay rise. Commenting on the news, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the government are treating staff like 'dirt'. He says:

"Workers across the public sector have made enough sacrifices. Over the last few years they have done their bit to help get the country back on track. How can the government treat hard working soldiers, nurses, midwives and NHS workers like this? Giving them a £5 a week increase is a derisory insult.

"All of this is a kick in the teeth from a callous government that thinks it can blame anything it wants on Brexit. Rather than funding our NHS and social care properly and giving them the funds they needs, like the £4 billion cash injection we have proposed, they are treating staff like dirt.

"Staff are already suffering a Brexit squeeze, with higher prices caused by a falling pound. Now the public sector is being slashed to pay for Brexit. You cannot have a strong NHS and armed forces, and a Hard Brexit."