ANY move by Tory ministers to ignore the advice of the supposedly independent pay review bodies they appoint would be “driven by politics, not economics,” the TUC warned today.

The charge came after embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Social Care Minister Helen Whately again refused to commit to accepting public-sector wage recommendations from the bodies, some of which are thought to be urging higher salary boosts than those by Downing Street.

The groups, which look at wages across health services, education and elsewhere, have their members appointed and remits set by ministers.