Boris Johnson latest minister to call for public sector pay rise
2 min read
Boris Johnson has become the latest Cabinet minister to call for the end of the public sector pay cap.
Pay rises across the state sector have been held to a 1% limit since 2013, although some staff have been able to increase their salaries through promotion.
Sources close to the Foreign Secretary said he "strongly believes" the Government can offer an increase in a "responsible way".
It follows an intervention yesterday from the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, who said ministers should "listen to the pay review bodies" who recommend what wages should be in different professions.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Education Secretary Justine Greening are also reportedly keen to see the cap relaxed, with Mr Hunt specifically calling for nurses to get a pay rise.
The bodies for teachers and police officers are due to report later this month, and any recommendation of a rise above 1% would raise the pressure on Theresa May and Chancellor Philip Hammond.
A change could mean Mr Hammond being faced with having to find billions of pounds through cuts to departmental budgets or tax rises.
Labour tabled an amendment to last week's Queen's Speech calling for the end of the cap, and Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth said yesterday minister should consider pay rises in line with average earnings growth.
"They're saying 'wait for the pay review bodies', even though they're the ones insisting on a 1% cap," Mr Ashworth told the Andrew Marr Show.
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