After all the clapping for the NHS last year, the government has issued a sharp slap in the face to the people who have worked tirelessly to try and keep us safe during the pandemic.

Northumberland’s Shadow Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care Cllr Simpson said: “Many NHS workers put their mental health and their lives on the line to look after us throughout this terrible pandemic. Even the boss of the NHS says the government has broken its promises on NHS pay.

“Now, far from the pay rise which was expected, our NHS workers will have a real-terms pay cut.

“We in Northumberland Labour will be doing everything we can to represent our health workers who have already had years of pay freezes.

“We simply cannot keep the status quo where the government squanders billions on wasteful projects, thinks nothing of paying off people like Dominic Cummings but says it can’t afford to pay our health workers what they deserve. The system is upside down and the priorities are all wrong.

“Under Labour we will go back to a decent society where people look out for each other and value public services.”