![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/top-tory-claims-people-use-foodbanks-due-to-a-broken-relationship-or-boiler/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/3_Cabinet-meeting.jpg&description=Education Secretary Gillian Keegan urged nurses not to strike over measly pay rises and claimed most use foodbanks due to broken 'relationship or boiler'Gillian Keegan says there's 'no point' in nurses striking A top Tory has told nurses there is no point going on strike over pay - and claimed most people use foodbanks due to a broken "relationship or boiler". Education Secretary Gillian Keegan made the comments as the members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) prepare for an unprecedented national strike. The ballot of 300,000 members is expected to be formally announced this afternoon, with walkouts expected all over the country. Nurses are furious over the Government's £1,400 pay rise, which represents a significant real terms pay cut after inflation. The measly pay hike amounts to around 4% on average while in Scotland nurses were given a 5% rise before inflation. Both offers have been rejected by unions. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told nurses there was no point in striking ( PA) Ms Keegan, a former Health Minister, said "nobody wants nurses to go on strike" as the country grapples with massive Covid backlogs for care. "I don't think there's any point in going on strike anywhere," she told Sky News. "I would urge the nurses to continue those discussions, but the reality is if we gave massive above-inflation rises, not only would we have to raise a lot more money, but it would actually fuel inflation. "This is the problem. We really have to tackle inflation." Ms Keegan said "of course" she clapped for carers during the pandemic but suggested that foodbank use was not to do with low pay. Asked if she was comfortable with nurses using foodbanks to survive, she said: "Quite often when you go to food banks, something will have happened, you know, something will have broken down - either a relationship or boiler or anything. The Royal College of Nursing members have backed strike action over pay ( In Pictures via Getty Images) "Usually they're in an emergen){kind=link}
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan urged nurses not to strike over measly pay rises and claimed most use foodbanks due to broken ‘relationship or boiler’
A top Tory has told nurses there is no point going on strike over pay – and claimed most people use foodbanks due to a broken “relationship or boiler”.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan made the comments as the members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) prepare for an unprecedented national strike.
The ballot of 300,000 members is expected to be formally announced this afternoon, with walkouts expected all over the country.
Nurses are furious over the Government’s £1,400 pay rise, which represents a significant real terms pay cut after inflation.