Streeting urges doctors not to join BMA strike

A strike by resident doctors "enormously undermines the entire trade union movement", Wes Streeting has argued, urging them not to join industrial action this morning.

- Peter Walker Rachel Hall

In an online article for the Guardian, the health secretary said the decision by the British Medical Association (BMA) to push for new strikes in England after receiving a pay rise of 22% to cover 2023-24 and 2024-25 was unreasonable and unprecedented.

Taking aim at the leadership of the BMA, which represents the medics formerly known as junior doctors, Streeting condemned their demand for a fresh 29% rise over the next few years. He said that while there was 90% backing for the strike, it was on a turnout of just over 55% of members.

Streeting said the move to strike after the offer of a 5.4% pay rise for 2025-26, was rushed into and was "bitterly disappointing" amid efforts to improve NHS services.

"There was a deal here to be done," he wrote. "Instead, the BMA leadership's decision to not even consider postponing these strikes will place an enormous burden on their colleagues, and hit the recovery we can all see our health service is making.