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Portsmouth MP blasts Chancellor for pay cut to over 23,000 local NHS heroes and key workers

By 9 March 2021No Comments

Stephen Morgan MP has condemned the Chancellor’s decision to NHS heroes with a real-terms pay cut this year, as well as other key workers who have kept the country going throughout the pandemic, following new analysis from the Official Opposition.

The new analysis reveals the cut would hit over 23,000 key workers in Portsmouth – the nurses, teachers, police officers and Armed Forces personnel on the front line of the battle against COVID-19.

On Thursday, the Government revealed that they intend to cut the pay of all NHS staff relative to inflation this year.

This comes after the Chancellor announced a ‘pay freeze’ for all other public sector workers earning above £24,000 in 2021-22. Those earning less than £24,000 were promised “a fixed increase of £250”.

Taking into account inflation over the next fiscal year, that means every non-NHS public sector worker earning over £18,000 will also get a real-terms pay cut.

In Portsmouth, this means 1615 teachers will see their pay cut, as well as over 15,000 police officers in the wider region and over 90% of the 38,000 Armed Forces personnel also based in the South East.

Stephen Morgan, Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, said

“Our key workers and NHS heroes have kept our city going through this crisis, but instead of rewarding them, the Chancellor has hidden in the detail of his Budget a real-terms cut to their pay.

“It is both a morally and economically irresponsible decision: if families have less money to spend, then our local businesses will suffer and only prolong Portsmouth’s recovery from this crisis.

“The Chancellor must think again, and cancel plans to cut Universal Credit, hike council tax and cut pay for nurses, police officers, teachers and our Armed Forces personnel.”

Last week Mr Morgan also criticised the Chancellor for the late extension of furlough and business support schemes, as well the rise in council tax bills for many across Portsmouth.