Junior doctors in the BMA are set to strike for five days from 27 June, in the run-up to the general election.
A junior doctor in Liverpool told the Socialist:
“The NHS is experiencing its most intense pressure in its 75-year history. The health service has been undermined by an unprecedented decade of underfunding.
“Through recent years, junior doctors have made both an enormous contribution and a significant sacrifice. None of this is recognised by the Tory government, who were happy to clap NHS staff through the coronavirus pandemic but cannot bring themselves to appropriately pay us.
“Now we have to ask Keir Starmer – what will your government do?
“Despite increasing workload and waiting lists at record highs, junior doctors’ pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008-09.
“The doctors’ union the BMA is calling to reverse the steep decline in pay faced since 2008-09. We need pay increases that will safeguard the recruitment and retention of junior doctors.”