Nick Thomas-Symonds said doctors’ pay demands are unaffordable
Labour is opposed to strikes by junior doctors because of the disruption that they create, according to shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds.
He told GB News: “I didn't want to see this strike take place, Labour didn't want to see this strike taking place because of the inevitable disruption that it causes.
“But you also have to look to the Conservative government at Westminster. Can we seriously say they've been straining every sinew to prevent this strike taking place?
“Indeed, their history on trying to deal with industrial disputes over the past year or more has been either to simply stand to one side and not engage or to pass legislation that has made the situation worse.”
In a discussion during Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, he continued: “We've been clear that we don't believe that the 35% upfront award is affordable, it's not affordable because of the lamentable state of the public finances after 14 years of Conservative government.
“But frankly, what the landing zone is, what the area of compromise is, you will only get to if you are willing to put in those hard, difficult hours at the negotiating table.
“I don't think you can say honestly that's what the Government has done at every possible opportunity in recent weeks to try to prevent this strike from happening. That's what Labour would have done.“
He added: “This is what I hope will be a year of change but one where the power is in the hands of the people. And rightly so in terms of having a general election.
“…specific tax rates are a matter for the leader and the shadow chancellor to put forward after we've seen the Conservative position in the Budget, but we know already that the tax burden is at a record high and it's at a record high because of the Conservative mismanagement of the economy over the past 14 years.”
