Nurses strike: NHS staff march on No 10 as Starmer hits out at Tories’ ‘lethal chaos’

Nurses call further walkouts for next month alongside ambulance workers

Ambulance union GMB announces six more strike dates across three months

Striking nurses are marching with supporters to Downing Street as further mass walkouts of NHS were announced for the coming weeks.

In a message to the prime minister, nursing leaders said: "If you want to continue to have strikes ... that's exactly what you will get."

Nurses and ambulance workers are set to strike on the same day next month as the pay dispute with the government shows no signs of reaching a resolution.

The escalation comes as thousands of nurses walkout today and tomorrow at more than 55 NHS trusts in England.

Earlier, Steve Barclay, the health secretary, claimed that patients would pay the price if nurses got a pay hike.

Writing exclusively forThe Independent, Mr Barclay said any boost to wages would “take billions of pounds away from where we need it most”.

He wrote: “Unaffordable pay hikes will mean cutting patient care and stoking the inflation that would make us all poorer.”

Key Points

• Tens of thousands over nurses walk out again in row over pay
• Steve Barclay: Patients will pay price for higher nurse salaries

[18 January 2023 11:55 · Matt Mathers]

PMQs kicking off shortly

PMQs will kick off in a few minutes.

We’ll bring you updates throughout the session.

You can also watch it live on our YouTube channel here:

[18 January 2023 11:48 · Matt Mathers]

Tory ministers reveal fear conversion therapy ban could ‘criminalise’ parents

Rishi Sunak’s government has promised that draft legislation setting how it will ban conversion therapy will include “everyone” – including transgender people.

However, equalities minister Kemi Badenoch is expected to write to all Tory MPs to express concerns about the risks in the legislation and efforts to avoid “criminalising” parents.

Our politics correspondent Adam Forrest reports:

[18 January 2023 11:36 · Matt Mathers]

Nurses strike again in row over pay and conditions

Continued strike action plus winter pressures are jeopardising the ability of the NHS to break out of a “vicious cycle”, a health leader has said.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, urged ministers to renew pay talks with trade unions in a bid to halt further industrial action.

He suggested waiting lists are likely to remain stubbornly high unless the Government gives the “NHS a fighting chance”.

Thousands of nurses from more than 55 NHS trusts in England are going on strike this Wednesday and Thursday, following two strikes in December.

Jane Kirby reports:

[18 January 2023 11:34 · Matt Mathers]

Health secretary tells striking NHS nurses: Take the money and patients will pay the price

Steve Barclay has said NHS staff could receive a ‘top up’ on pay if savings are made through cuts to “administrative burdens”.

Writing exclusively in The Independent, Steve Barclay said any boost to wages would “take billions of pounds away from where we need it most”.

Read his full piece here:

[18 January 2023 11:23 · Matt Mathers]

Good morning

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer face off at PMQs at midday as nurses go on strike again.

Stayed tuned for all the latest updates from Westminster and elsewhere.