Pay rises for the public sector

The pay rise for nearly a million public sector workers announced today is well deserved. Throughout the pandemic our public servants have been putting themselves in harm’s way, and as a result some have lost their lives to the virus.

The care sector has been right on the front line of our national response. Care and support workers have risen to the challenge of hands-on support for those most vulnerable to the virus. Some have self-isolated away from their loved ones to keep the people they support safe; all have showed enormous dedication and resolve.

For that, our nation has clapped them enthusiastically and the government has introduced a Care badge. The government must now ringfence additional funding to enable our Local Authorities to recognise care and support workers’ contribution in the right way. As a nation, we must put our money where our mouth is.