Here we had one of the Sunaks announcing the very opposite on pay of what had been said previously
It was a brisk and businesslike Rishi Sunak who raced into the Downing Street media room at lunchtime. The desperation of someone keen to project an air of getting things done. Sooner or later. Usually later. At least, we had to assume it was the prime minister. Though it could have been a doppelganger. It’s a while since Sunak had appeared in person before a UK audience. Still, best to take these things on trust.
Good news, said Rish!. Of course it was. He wouldn’t have shown his face if he didn’t think he had a positive story to tell. Then it would have been just slipped out in a written ministerial statement. The government had agreed to accept the recommendations of the independent pay review boards and give public sector workers a rise of between 6 and 7%. Still in effect a pay cut, given inflation, on top of real-terms cuts over the past 13 years. But he didn’t think to mention that. No need to spoil the Mr Nice Guy narrative.
