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Labour leadership under fire for failing to support NHS pay rise demands
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech at the party headquarters in central London launching the party's campaign for the local and mayoral elections in May

THE Labour leadership came under fire today for failing to support trade union demands for NHS pay rises as the fight against the Conservatives’ paltry 1 per cent offer to nurses continues.

During a BBC interview this morning, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner refused to back both the Royal College of Nurses’ (RCN) current demand for a 12 per cent pay rise and a 2019 manifesto commitment for a 5 per cent increase, instead supporting “at least” 2.1 per cent.

Left-wing campaign group Momentum criticised Ms Rayner on the day that leader Sir Keir Starmer launched Labour’s May election campaign with the message that it is the party of the NHS.

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