Junior doctors' leaders accused of 'cynical tactic' in calling new strike during election

JUNIOR doctors were blasted yesterday after announcing five days of strikes strikes leading up to the General Election.

- Hanna Geissler

British Medical Association members will walk out from 7am on Thursday, June 27 until 7am on Tuesday, July 2.

The move was slammed as a "highly cynical tactic" by Health Secretary Victoria Atkins.

Rishi Sunak said the timing of the announcement by junior doctors, on the same day Labour pledged to cut NHS waiting lists, "makes it look incredibly political".

But union leaders retaliated, blaming the PM for making "no credible offer" in their long pay dispute.

Ms Atkins wrote on X: "I am in politics to help patients, not trade unions. Today should be the day the Labour Party finally condemn junior doctor strikes. Announcing this during an election and on Labour's health day shows this was only ever political and not about patients or staff.

In contrast, we have reached a deal with consultants and put to specialty and an offer specialist doctors." She added: "I'll always deal constructively if the other side does too.

This is a highly cynical tactic, since the BMA junior doctors have already received a pay increase of up to 10.3%. This Conservative Government has taken the tough decisions to keep public spending down to bear down on inflation, which is now back to normal.