‘Answer the question!’ Andrew Pierce GRILLS junior doctor over ‘political’ strike: ‘Oh COME on!’

British Medical Association (BMA) members will walk out on 27 June - a week before election day.

Speaking on GB News, junior doctor Bhasha Mukherjee said: "We've been trying to be strategic throughout. The BMA (British Medical Association) have been in conversation with the government for three months when the strikes were halted again and yet again.

"We're now over a year into this strike motion, and the government have still not been able to offer something reasonable. It's really quite taxing on us as well to just keep feeling like there's hope and then the hope gets taken away.

"I think this is a very strategic move by BMA and also the junior doctors to essentially create some political debate and right up to the election, allow the public to decide who they want to vote for because ultimately the public are suffering as a result of this as well as the junior doctors."

Andrew asked her: "Doctor Mukherjee, do you really think a five day strike a week before a general election is going to get you a 35 per cent pay rise? I've never heard of anything more ridiculous.

"This is a blatant political strike. And who cares about the patients who are going to have their appointments cancelled?"

She argued that this is a "question for the government" before Andrew fumed: "'I'm asking you the question. I'm asking you the question because you're supporting this strike."

The doctor replied: "I hear what you're saying in terms of patients feeling like this is going to affect them. Ultimately, the dates of the strikes are also including the weekend dates when a lot of things are on minimum."

Andrew shot back: "Answer the question, do you really think this is going to elicit any more money from the government five days before a general election?"

He added: "Oh come on, you're an intelligent woman. It's a political strike."

"It has to be a political strike," she responded, "I've admitted that throughout the whole period, this has been a strategic move to get the politicians to listen to us. That's been the aim throughout."

The BMA has asked for a 35 per cent pay rise to make up for what it says is 15 years of below-inflation pay rises.

Junior doctors received a pay rise averaging nearly nine per cent in the last financial year.

The BMA walked out of talks last year during which an extra three per cent pay rise on top was discussed.

This will be the 11th walkout by junior doctors in this dispute after their first strike in March 2023. The last one took place in February.

It will see junior doctors walk out of all services, with senior doctors having to be drafted in to provide cover.