Public Spending: Inheritance

Debate between Rachel Reeves and Sam Carling

Monday 29th July 2024 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

If the right hon. Gentleman has any chance of fixing the mess that his previous Government made, he might want to start with an apology.

[Sam Carling (North West Cambridgeshire) (Lab)]

I thank the Chancellor for her honesty on the incredibly serious situation that she has just outlined. Does she agree that the above-inflation pay deals agreed by this Government with our public sector staff will begin the process of rebuilding trust between them and our Government and will benefit the public purse by reducing strike action?

[Rachel Reeves]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. Let us just be clear that the pay recommendations today are in line with private sector pay. These are just the pay deals that are received by the majority of workers in the private sector. My hon. Friend is right that we owe a debt of gratitude to our frontline workers, who got us through the pandemic and so many other challenges over the last few years, and they deserve to be paid properly for their work.