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Anger at public pay freeze plan Anger over pay freeze 'politics'
(39 minutes later)
Public sector representatives have criticised a plan by Chancellor Alistair Darling to freeze the pay of senior staff, including GPs and judges. Public sector workers have criticised plans to freeze their pay - announced by both the government and the Tories - to try to address the public deficit.
The British Medical Association called it "very disappointing", while union the First Division Association said Mr Darling was playing "a political game". Chancellor Alistair Darling has said he would freeze the pay of senior staff, including GPs and judges.
The government said "tough, but realistic decisions on pay" were vital. Tory counterpart George Osborne said he would freeze public pay for 12 months - apart from those on more than £18,000 and troops in Afghanistan.
But Conservative leader David Cameron said the news was "cynical in timing and quite insubstantial in content". One public sector union said the issue had become part of a "political game".
The chancellor's move breaks the convention about avoiding big policy statements during rival party conferences. The PCS union said there was "a very strong" likelihood of industrial action as a result.
The government has said "tough, but realistic decisions on pay" were vital.
'Lacked guts'
Mr Darling was first to announce his plans on Monday evening, breaking the convention that the government avoids big policy statements during rival party conferences.
A spokesman for the prime minister said there was "no plan" for the announcement to be made during the Tory conference, adding: "Sometimes things get out."A spokesman for the prime minister said there was "no plan" for the announcement to be made during the Tory conference, adding: "Sometimes things get out."
But during his speech in Manchester on Tuesday, shadow chancellor George Osborne criticised the move, saying Mr Darling "didn't have the guts" to announce the freeze to his own party's conference. It is the best way to protect your job during this difficult time George Osborne to public workers class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/stephanieflanders/2009/10/an_embarrassment_of_cuts.html">Stephanomics: An embarrassment of cuts
'Very disappointing' But during his speech in Manchester on Tuesday, Mr Osborne criticised the move, saying Mr Darling "didn't have the guts" to announce the freeze to his own party's conference last week.
Mr Darling has written to salary review bodies calling on them to freeze the pay of 40,000 senior public servants in 2010/11. The chancellor has written to salary review bodies calling on them to freeze the pay of 40,000 senior public servants in 2010/11.
He also recommended that about 700,000 middle-ranking public servants, including doctors, dentists and prison officers, get a rise of between 0 and 1%.He also recommended that about 700,000 middle-ranking public servants, including doctors, dentists and prison officers, get a rise of between 0 and 1%.
I agree you have to treat MPs the same as other senior workers Yvette Cooper Work and Pensions Secretary Stephanomics: An embarrassment of cuts
If fully implemented, the pay freeze would be the toughest public sector pay deal in 30 years.If fully implemented, the pay freeze would be the toughest public sector pay deal in 30 years.
'Very disappointing'
It does not affect teachers, nurses and police officers, who are still subject to three-year pay deals which come to an end next year, or members of the armed forces.It does not affect teachers, nurses and police officers, who are still subject to three-year pay deals which come to an end next year, or members of the armed forces.
The British Medical Association said Mr Darling's move was "very disappointing news" and insisted it was "not the time to demoralise doctors". Meanwhile Mr Osborne said an incoming Conservative government would impose a 12-month pay freeze on public servants earning more than £18,000 a year - although it would not include servicemen and women serving in Afghanistan.
Dr Lawrence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GP committee, said: "He won't get rid of management consultants who drain a large amount of money to American management companies. He won't stop spending money on computer systems where he's chucked billions of pounds into things that don't work. He said this pay freeze was the equivalent of saving 100,000 frontline public sector jobs and in a message to public sector workers said: "It is the best way to protect your job during this difficult time."
We weren't expecting particularly large rises, but I don't think it's very helpful for the government to announce freezes like this in what looks to be part of a political game Jonathan BaumeFirst Division Association
He also said a Tory government would cut ministers' pay by 5% next year and freeze it for the rest of the Parliament.
Reacting to the chancellor's announcement the British Medical Association (BMA) said Mr Darling's move was "very disappointing news" and insisted it was "not the time to demoralise doctors".
Spokesman Dr Lawrence Buckman said: "He won't get rid of management consultants who drain a large amount of money to American management companies. He won't stop spending money on computer systems where he's chucked billions of pounds into things that don't work.
"Yet we have to freeze our pay, which I can understand, but in freezing our pay, he also freezes our staff's pay, and that seems to me to be a monumental unfairness.""Yet we have to freeze our pay, which I can understand, but in freezing our pay, he also freezes our staff's pay, and that seems to me to be a monumental unfairness."
'Political game' Jonathan Baume, from the First Division Association, which represents senior public servants, said they were "extremely disappointed": "We weren't expecting particularly large rises, but I don't think it's very helpful for the government to announce freezes like this in what looks to be part of a political game, vying with the Conservatives to see who can be toughest at the moment."
Jonathan Baume, from the First Division Association, said they were "extremely disappointed" and the freeze would affect "key workers" who were "doing very demanding jobs"
"We weren't expecting particularly large rises, but I don't think it's very helpful for the government to announce freezes like this in what looks to be part of a political game, vying with the Conservatives to see who can be toughest at the moment."
But David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, welcomed the pay freeze, but said it was "long overdue" and should be combined with a freeze on public sector recruitment.But David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, welcomed the pay freeze, but said it was "long overdue" and should be combined with a freeze on public sector recruitment.
A Treasury source told the BBC the pay freeze would cancel a rise due next summer as part of a current three-year pay deal.A Treasury source told the BBC the pay freeze would cancel a rise due next summer as part of a current three-year pay deal.
The move would apply to health workers in England and Wales, but not those in Scotland.The move would apply to health workers in England and Wales, but not those in Scotland.
But senior civil servants working in national organisations in Scotland, such as HM Revenue and Customs, would be affected.But senior civil servants working in national organisations in Scotland, such as HM Revenue and Customs, would be affected.
Asked whether a pay freeze would extend to MPs, Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC: "Ministers took no pay increase this year and I think that's right. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne defended the freeze, saying the government had to take difficult decisions to help cut Britain's fiscal deficit.
"We have also put forward evidence in terms of MPs because I agree you have to treat MPs the same as other senior workers."
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne also defended the freeze, saying the government had to take difficult decisions to help cut Britain's fiscal deficit.
"That means leadership from senior groups and realistic increases for other workforces," he added."That means leadership from senior groups and realistic increases for other workforces," he added.