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Moray Council's leader Graham Leadbitter condemns public sector pay freeze


By Alistair Whitfield

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The leader of Moray Council has condemned the UK Conservative Government for its "shameful" pay freeze for public sector workers.

Graham Leadbitter (Elgin South, SNP) was speaking after Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his spending review earlier today.

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Cllr Leadbitter said: "The Chancellor announcing a pay freeze for the same key workers that he stood in Downing Street and clapped for has got to be some kind of sick joke.

"No-one will be laughing though as the dedication of frontline workers through the pandemic is now ignored by the UK Tory Government.

"The Tories in Moray constantly talk about the need for more funding for our local public services.

"Yet they freeze funding for pay, putting enormous pressure on both Scottish Government and Council finances.

"All over Moray we can see the rainbows in windows and thank-you messages for health workers, council staff, police officers, fire crews and many others.

"Yet the Tories seem intent on punishing those same workers for their commitment to public service during a devastating pandemic.

"It is utterly shameful."

According to the BBC the main points of today's spending review were:

  • Millions of public sector workers will see their pay frozen in 2021-2
  • A million NHS workers as well as those earning less than £24,000 will still get increases
  • The UK economy is expected to shrink by 11.3% this year
  • Unemployment is expected to reach 7.5% next spring, with 2.6 million people out of work
  • The overseas aid budget is to be cut by about £4bn
  • A new £4billion 'levelling up' fund to pay for upgrading local infrastructure across UK

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