PM May defends public sector pay cap after Corbyn attack

PM Theresa May defended the government’s stance on austerity and reiterated her support for the 1% public sector pay cap during PMQs on Wednesday, despite claims that government ministers want it scrapped.

Under pressure from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the House of Commons, May cited Greece as an example of what can happen if budget deficits are not curtailed.

May said reducing the budget deficit was her main priority, but added that the government would review the public pay recommendations.

When quizzed by Corbyn, May was adamant that her government’s economic policies were working.

May said: "Let me remind the right honourable gentleman what happens when you don’t deal with the deficit. It’s not a theoretical issue.

"In Greece, where they haven't dealt with the deficit, what did we see with failure to deal with the deficit? Spending on the health service cut by 36 per cent. That doesn't help nurses or patients."

'LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS'

The PM added that the UK needed to 'live within our means' and will consider reports from pay review bodies.

The Labour leader was highly critical of the government’s economic policy, accusing May of using public money to save her own position following the Conservatives' payout deal with the DUP to form a government.

"The prime minister found £1bn to keep her own job - why can't she find the same amount of money to keep nurses and teachers in their own job - who after all serve all of us," Corbyn said.

Corbyn added that there was a 'low pay epidemic'’ in Britain, leading to a major shortage of NHS staff.

Several cabinet members have suggested they would be in favour of removing the public sector pay cap, with the dissenters growing louder since the party’s loss of its parliamentary majority in the snap election on 8 June.