The solution to strikes? Increase key workers’ pay by the same percentage as MPs’ wages

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It would have the added benefit of projecting thoughts of affordability back onto MPs’ pay, so that it is not a consideration exclusively for other workers (AFP/Getty)

The answer to nurses’ and other public sector workers’ pay issues is to link workers’ pay to that of those most prominent public sector employees – MPs.

Using 2010, the start of austerity, as datum, the identical percentage increase that MPs have enjoyed to date could be applied to the pay of nurses and others. That would be visibly fair and would have the added benefit of projecting thoughts of affordability back onto MPs’ pay, so that it is not a consideration exclusively for other workers.

It would also highlight for MPs the need to be as firm, as they evidently wish to be with strikers, with the profiteers who create inflation, diminish the value of workers’ pay and provoke strikes in the first place.

Dr Stephen Riley

Somerset

Minimum service levels

The government’s plan to sack essential workers if they go on strike is not only idiotic and counterproductive, it’s entirely unnecessary.

These are people who are protesting about their appalling working conditions because there are simply not enough of them and because 12 years of a Tory government has compromised the services they are doing their best to provide.

Striking paramedics last month left their picket lines in order to care for people in need. How can the proposed legislation improve on that?

Susan Alexander

South Gloucestershire

A country on its knees

It seems that all sectors of British industry have been negatively affected by our current government’s inaction.

I was born just one year after the formation of the NHS and have experienced tremendously welcomed health care, both from GPs and hospitals.

Through the various national and local strikes, never have I seen such a complete denouncement of current governance. From all levels of society, there is discontent and anger, culminating in strike action from services and industries that have never previously withdrawn labour. The country is in turmoil and seemingly without a functioning government.

What a sad indictment of such a wonderful country to have a government, in its 13th year, which has brought Britain to its knees. Change of government is a must, hopefully that would bring changes necessary for future prosperity.

Keith Poole

Basingstoke

Politicians fiddle while Rome burns

Salma Shah is right to say that the electorate is desperately in need of a unifying “national mission” from our political leaders.

We need to believe that there are politicians that have the capacity to address the mountain of problems that are besetting us, which look set to be insuperable if someone doesn’t grasp the nettle, tell us some home truths and inspire us with a vision of how the future can be.

Starmer is by nature cautious, and desperate not to squander what he has achieved before an election is called. Sunak is no more than a caretaker prime minister; treading water and limiting the damage caused by Brexit, Johnson and Truss. And so Rome burns while our politicians fiddle around the edges; afraid to act decisively for fear of their political futures.

There are two things that will hasten the move towards a general election that the nation so badly needs. Firstly, after the usual delaying tactics and threats, the privileges committee needs to get to work and remove, once and for all, the divisive Johnson from our political landscape.

Secondly, a coordinated national strike – supported by the mass of the people – should be used to demonstrate that the government has lost its mandate and needs to be replaced immediately.

Graham Powell

Cirencester