THE Tory government’s “hostile attitude” towards nurses has provoked national strikes across the NHS, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner charged today.

The intervention came after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said that it is considering extending walkouts to A&E and cancer wards as Downing Street continues its refusal to reopen negotiations on 2022-23’s below-inflation wage award.

Asked by Sky News if she would support the move, which would still see workers provide legal minimum levels of care, Ms Rayner said: “The RCN and nurses have never taken industrial action ever before so I think that context is really important.