JUNIOR doctors’ leaders accused the government today of clinging to political dogma as an excuse not to enter talks to resolve their historic strike.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said she would only talk to the British Medical Association (BMA) if it calls off its six-day strike, which is the longest ever staged by the union.

In response, BMA council chairman Professor Philip Banfield said: “It is a political choice for this government to stick rigidly to its dogma of not negotiating while strikes are planned.