Tories go to war with BMA as Health Secretary slams politicking pre-election strike

The Tories will suffer an NHS blow just days before polling day, as junior doctors confirm new plans to strike in June and July.

In a statement this morning, the BMA said: “We made clear to the Government that we would strike unless discussions ended in a credible pay offer”.

“For more than 18 months we have been asking Rishi Sunak to put forward proposals to restore the pay junior doctors have lost over the past 15 years – equal to more than a quarter in real terms.

“When we entered mediation with Government this month we did so under the impression that we had a functioning government that would soon be making an offer. Clearly no offer is now forthcoming. Junior doctors are fed up and out of patience.

“Even at this late stage Mr Sunak has the opportunity to show that he cares about the NHS and its workers. It is finally time for him to make a concrete commitment to restore doctors’ pay.

“If during this campaign he makes such a public commitment that is acceptable to the BMA’s junior doctors committee, then no strikes need go ahead.”

Staff will walk out from June 27 to July 2, with polling day falling just two days later on July 4.

Responding to the news, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins fumed: "I am in politics to help patients not trade unions”.

She demanded: "Today should be the day the Labour Party finally condemn Junior Doctor strikes”.

"This is a highly cynical tactic, since the BMA junior doctors have already received a pay increase of up to 10.3%.”

Ms Atkins also suggested that the Labour Party and the union are working in league with each other to influence the election outcome, adding: "Announcing this during an election and on Labour’s health day shows this was only ever political and not about patients or staff”.

"This Conservative government has taken the tough decisions to keep public spending down to bear down on inflation, which is now back to normal.

"Labour would be in the hands of their union paymasters - meaning more spending and higher taxes."

Speaking this morning, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting was keen to use the strike threat as way to attack the Tories.

He told the Today Programme: "I am genuinely shocked we are in this situation where we are in a general election and not only have we had national strikes for the first time ever under the Conservatives, but we have the junior doctors dispute unresolved”.

However asked how he would address the constant strikes, Mr Streeting said he would not cave into the BMA's demand for a 35% pay rise.

"Firstly on your 35% pay claim, I want to show you the respect you're deserved of being honest with you this side of the election before you cast your votes, that that 35% pay claim is not one that I would be able to meet on July 5th.”

Health chiefs have warned Labour they will find it impossible to achieve their promise of cutting waiting lists unless they also reach a settlement with striking junior doctors.

The news also threatens to overshadow Labour's big NHS day, joining the Diane Abbott row in derailing Labour's planned talking point for the day.