THE Tory government’s “hostile attitude” towards nurses has provoked national strikes across the NHS, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner charged today.

The intervention came after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said that it is considering extending walkouts to A&E and cancer wards as Downing Street continues its refusal to reopen negotiations on 2022-23’s below-inflation wage award.

Asked by Sky News if she would support the move, which would still see workers provide legal minimum levels of care, Ms Rayner said: “The RCN and nurses have never taken industrial action ever before so I think that context is really important.

“And RCN leader [Pat Cullen] has made it clear that the government have just absolutely point blank refused to negotiate with them.

“I think that we’re in this situation because the government are acting in a hostile way towards these workers that kept us going through the pandemic.

“They really urgently need to get around the table. No nurse wants to take industrial action and cause disruption to the care that they provide.

“But of course, we’ve seen record numbers of vacancies in nursing care and their jobs are therefore becoming increasingly difficult. 

“So, without this intervention, without the government getting around the table, these issues are ongoing, regardless of the strike, because we can’t carry on as things are.”

Westminster’s approach stands in stark contrast to devolved Labour ministers in Wales, whose offer of 3 per cent extra for 2022-23 saw planned strikes last Monday postponed.

But Labour’s national leadership has been widely criticised for failing to commit to inflation-matching public-sector pay rises if it wins the next general election, likely in spring or autumn next year.

Tory ministers claim the move would be “unaffordable.”