Thousand pound pay rise for almost 1m teachers, soldiers and doctors
Almost a million teachers, soldiers and doctors get an above-inflation pay rise boost worth around a thousand pounds in boost for public sector workers
- Medics in hospitals will receive an extra £1,500 or 2.5 per cent
- Teachers get a 2.75 per cent increase that averages out at £1,000 per person
- Soldiers will get a 2.9 per cent raise equivalent to £995 for a corporal
- Lib Dems questioned where the money for the rises is coming from
Teachers, doctors and soldiers are among a million public sector workers handed above-inflation pay rises today by Chancellor Philip Hammond in what is probably one of final acts in the role.
Medics in hospitals will receive an extra £1,500 or 2.5 per cent while teachers get a 2.75 per cent increase that averages out at £1,000 per person, the Treasury announced.
Soldiers will get a 2.9 per cent raise equivalent to £995 for a corporal and officers will get a £769 top-up to their salaries.
It is the second above-inflation pay rise for public sector staff since the 1 per cent pay cap was scrapped in September 2017.
The Treasury said it would be backdated to the start of each profession’s financial year.
Mr Hammond said: ‘This is in recognition of the hard work of millions of people, including soldiers, teachers and doctors, and will help us recruit and retain the best staff’
Theresa May, pictured in Downing Street this morning, said: ‘Our public sector workers deserve this pay rise in recognition of the brilliant job they do on a daily basis’
Mr Hammond said: ‘Public sector workers deliver Britain’s world class public services and should be properly rewarded which is why I’m confirming a second year of above inflation pay rises today.
‘This is in recognition of the hard work of millions of people, including soldiers, teachers and doctors, and will help us recruit and retain the best staff.
‘We are able to afford these pay rises because our balanced approach means we have reduced our debt while investing in public services, including pay.’
The announcement comes as Mr Hammond prepares to follow Theresa May out of Downing Street.
The Chancellor revealed on Sunday that he would resign to the Prime Minister rather than face the sack if, as expected, Boris Johnson is named Tory leader and prime minister tomorrow.
The pay rises announced are:
- 2.75 per cent for school teachers
- 2.5 per cent for consultants and dentists
- 2.5 per cent for police officers
- 2.9 per cent for personnel in the Armed Forces,
- at least 2.2 per cent for prison officers
- 2 per cent for senior civil servants and senior military staff
Mrs May said: ‘Whether it’s keeping us safe, saving lives or educating the next generation, our public sector workers deserve this pay rise in recognition of the brilliant job they do on a daily basis.
‘In 2017 we ended the public sector pay cap and I’m pleased that we can build on this today by giving almost a million of our dedicated public servants an above inflation salary increase.’
But Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Layla Moran questioned where the money would come from.
‘Teaching unions are warning that the Conservatives haven’t provided enough money to fund this pay rise – they’ve left a black hole of £280million,’ she said.
‘Teachers will welcome this well-deserved pay increase but it will subject schools to further misery.
‘Headteachers must now decide which support staff they will have to sack or which basic supplies they will have to cut back on to afford this underfunded pay rise.
‘No headteacher should have to make these sorts of decisions – schools should be fully funded and teachers should be paid properly.’
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