'They'll be too busy to spend it': Former Brexit Party MEP sparks Twitter row by demanding public sector workers take a 20% pay cut like furloughed private sector staff during second lockdown
A former Brexit MEP has sparked a Twitter row by demanding that public sector workers take a 20 percent pay cut like furloughed private sector staff during the second lockdown.
Lance Forman, who owns London's oldest salmon smokehouse, said that the 'entire public sector' should do so 'in solidarity' with their furloughed private sector counterparts.
He has been defiant in the face of outraged doctors and nurses, saying that 'they'll be too busy to spend it' and 'we are all in this together.'
Among the 'top-rated' replies to Forman, was one from a nurse who said that she would 'love' to be sitting at home on furlough but that they are overrun by Covid patients.
Brexit Party member and London MEP Lance Forman arrives at the final event of The Brexit Party's 'We are Ready' tour, in Westminster, central London on September 27, 2019
An ambulance crew working in Portsmouth at the height of the pandemic in May
Abi Carey wrote: 'I would love to be furloughed & sit at home on 80% of my wage. I'm knackered. We're drowning. Unfortunately, someone has to keep treating patients.'
Another nurse said that they had worked all through the first lockdown and questioned why he should be asked to do the same again but for 20 percent less pay.
Gabriel Earnest wrote: 'Confused I'm NHS nurse worked throughout lockdown last time and will this time so you want me to do that for 20% less while my brother stayed at home last time as his workshop was shut and got 80% pay for that. You want to elaborate.'
The public sector, excluding NHS workers, have come under a lot of flak since the lockdown.
Not only do they enjoy greater job security, but they are getting paid more than they were before the pandemic while those in the private sector face unemployment.
Last month it was revealed that public sector pay grew by 4.1 percent in the last financial quarter (June - August).
Percentage public sector pay increases by profession
School teachers 3.1%
Doctors & dentists 2.8%
Police officers 2.5%
Armed Forces 2%
National Crime Agency 2.5%
Prison officers 2.5%
Judges 2%
Senior civil servants 2%
Senior military 2%
That came after inflation-busting pay rises, including 2.8 percent for medics, 3.1 percent for teachers, 2.5 percent for the police and 2 percent for senior civil servants.
And Mr Forman, a Cambridge graduate, today refused to back down from his comments, writing: 'Thousands of private businesses are going bust through lockdowns.
'Millions will be made unemployed. But ask the public sector to share the financial pain with a 20% pay cut for 4 weeks and they go mental.
'It would save the Gov £2.5bn for the equiv of less than 1.5% pay cut.'
According to the ONS, regular pay in the public sector was 4.1 percent higher in June to August than the same period last year.
By contrast, the private sector saw zero annual growth. In the construction sector, pay was down 5.3 percent, while wholesaling, retail, hotels and restaurants remuneration was 1.8 percent lower.
The annual rate of change in total weekly earnings in the private sector in August alone looked slightly brighter at 1.3 percent - although it was still far below the public sector at 3.6 percent.
The annual rate of change in total weekly earnings in the private sector in August alone looked slightly brighter at 1.3 per cent - although it was still far below the public sector at 3.6 per cent
According to the ONS, regular pay in the public sector was 4.1 per cent higher in June to August than the same period last year, while the private sector flatlined
The latest data published by the Office for National Statistics suggests the UK's V-shaped recovery from the coronavirus crisis is slowing