It is arduous to think about something extra contemptible than utilizing the lives of sick sufferers as a bargaining chip in pay negotiations. But that’s precisely what the ambulance drivers’ union is doing.
A Unison spokesman warned yesterday that his hanging members might ‘select’ to not present even very important life-saving cowl for these with essential wants, reminiscent of coronary heart assault, stroke and sepsis victims.
What a shameful menace. Ambulance crews will not be certain by the Hippocratic Oath however are they actually ready to see individuals die due to their actions? They need to absolutely be higher than that.
In the meantime, the Royal Faculty of Nursing stands {accused} of evident hypocrisy over its stratospheric pay declare. As a commerce union, the RCN is hanging for a 19 per cent wage improve. But it has supplied its personal workers simply 4.5 per cent – decrease than the quantity its nurses have already rejected.
Talks between the RCN and Well being Secretary Steve Barclay have come to nothing
With inflation and rising prices, it’s fully comprehensible that the union is strapped for money and may’t afford to make an inflation-busting pay settlement.
However why ought to its bosses anticipate the taxpayer to stump up and fund a wage rise 4 occasions larger than they’re ready to offer their very own staff?
Talks between the RCN and Well being Secretary Steve Barclay predictably got here to nothing yesterday. However even at this eleventh hour, we might urge all of the well being unions to name off these ill-advised, pointless and deeply damaging strikes.
Their calls for are merely unaffordable. Sir Keir Starmer admits it and so does the Labour-run authorities in Wales, the place negotiations with the RCN additionally broke down yesterday. The walkouts will damage sufferers and the repute of NHS employees. They are going to obtain nothing.
Brussels within the dock
Nobody is extra pious in lecturing the UK on its authorized obligations than the commissars of Brussels, particularly over the Brexit withdrawal settlement.
Nonetheless, following allegations of corruption on the highest ranges of the European Parliament, they actually ought to get their very own home so as earlier than preaching to others.
Eva Kaili, vice-president of the parliament and considered one of its most senior law-makers, has been arrested as a part of an investigation into suspected bribery by a Gulf state.
Prosecutors suspect large sums had been being paid by this state (reportedly Qatar) to key EU politicians and officers to affect political and financial selections during which it had an curiosity.
4 others had been arrested and greater than £500,000 in money was seized, together with computer systems and cellphones, in a complete of 16 searches. There are additionally allegations of cash laundering.
We’ve got lengthy identified the EU’s monetary accounting was lower than clear, however these accusations, if proved, shall be devastating to its repute.
So subsequent time the EU desires to criticise Britain for supposedly breaching worldwide regulation, maybe it ought to present a bit extra humility. In spite of everything, individuals in glass homes…
Cheer up, Chancellor!
The Mail understands that we live by way of powerful financial occasions. However does Chancellor Jeremy Hunt must be fairly so funereal about our prospects?
Regardless of a welcome uptick in development, Microsoft ploughing £1.5billion into the London Inventory Trade and Ford investing £230million in its electrical automotive plant at Halewood, Mr Hunt nonetheless gave the impression of a harbinger of doom, gravely warning issues would worsen earlier than they received higher.
Continually speaking the financial system down dangers changing into a self-fulfilling prophecy. If large overseas companies consider so strongly in Britain’s future, is it actually an excessive amount of to ask for the Chancellor to do the identical?
