Starmer's red line: I won't roll over for doctors on pay

Labour leader delivers strongest words yet to junior medics seeking 35 percent wage rise as they begin five-day strike

- DAVID MADDOX , GEORDIE GREIG & REBECCA THOMAS

Sir Keir Starmer has warned striking junior doctors in his strongest words yet that he will not give in to their demands for a 35 per cent pay rise. Junior doctors are set to start their 11th walkout this morning in a bid to apply political pressure during the general election.

The latest five-day strike comes during the hottest week of the year and off the back of a cyberattack on London hospitals which has already resulted in thousands of operations being cancelled. This week will also see NHS services deal with major events such as Glastonbury and the London Pride march.

The head of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, and leading health officials have sent warnings about the pressure expected on hospitals over the next week.

Labour had appealed to doctors to await the outcome of the election before taking industrial action again, with the polls strongly indicating that Sir Keir and his party will be taking power on 5 July. But the opposition leader used his firmest language yet to make clear he will not bow to pressure for a huge pay rise. He told The Independent: “We’re not going to pay 35 per cent, we’ve told them that upfront. They know that. With negotiations, we need to find a way through it. But you know, to be absolutely blunt, we’re not going to 35 per cent; they know that and we are being clear about it from the outset.”