The chairman of the Conservative Party has stated that a strike by NHS nurses is “exactly what Putin wants to see.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Up to 100,000 nurses are set to go on strike on December 15 and 20 in a pay and conditions dispute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nadhim Zahawi, speaking on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme on Sunday, rejected their demands and attempted to link it to the conflict in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cComing up to Christmas it\u2019s unfair, in my view, for the unions to really damage and disrupt people\u2019s lives and livelihoods,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey should really rethink and they should reflect on this. That\u2019s exactly what Putin wants to see – that division. Let\u2019s not divide, let\u2019s come together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen, said: \u201cUsing Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine as a justification for a real-terms pay cut for nurses in the UK is a new low for this government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe public does not believe this kind of rhetoric and wants ministers to address our dispute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNursing staff cannot afford their food and other bills and still fear the worst on energy this winter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokesperson Christine Jardine branded Zahawi \u201cludicrous and insulting\u201d for suggesting Putin was responsible for nurses going on strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe responsibility lies firmly with this Conservative government\u2019s shambolic failure to find a solution,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cConservative ministers wasted billions of taxpayers\u2019 money on dodgy PPE contracts and now are refusing to offer a fair pay rise to nurses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is a clear demonstration of how out of touch Zahawi and this Conservative government really are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The chairman of the Conservative Party has stated that a strike by NHS nurses is “exactly what Putin wants to see.” Up to 100,000 nurses are set to go on … <\/p>\n