Steve Barclay accused of 'belligerence' after refusing to discuss nurses' pay during strike talks

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Health Secretary Steve Barclay has been accused of 'belligerence' after refusing to discuss wage demands in talks with nursing union leaders, as the War of words over impending strikes is turning bitter.

Despite agreeing to speak to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) on Monday evening, Mr Barclay has been stymied by the Government's refusal to negotiate on the union demand for a 5% pay rise above inflation.

< p>RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen said Mr Barclay refused to even discuss pay with her, strikes are now set to take place on December 15 and 20.

"They wouldn't talk to me about pay," she said. said. “I needed to come out of this meeting with something serious to show the nurses why they shouldn't strike this week. Unfortunately, they don't get a penny extra.

The union leader added: 'I expressed my deep disappointment with the belligerence - they closed their books and walked away.

Ahead of the talks, Rishi Sunak's official spokesman said the health secretary would only discuss things 'outside of pay' - saying pay offers remained the purview of bodies independent of pay review.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Barclay said donating to pay claims would take money away from funding NHS operations - and again insisted he would not would not negotiate the offer of a 4-5% pay rise presented earlier this year.

Of the backlog of seven million people awaiting surgery, Mr Barclay told the BBC: 'I don't want to take money out of clearing the backlog, that's what we should be doing - we should be taking money out of patients waiting for operations to then finance additional remuneration.

Ms Cullen told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the NCR could delay a strike set for December 15 if the government showed a willingness to negotiate - even by l Intermediary of Acas – a salary improvement. "My door is open," she later told Sky News.

Shadow Health Secretary for Labor Wes Streeting called the government's approach to the NHS pay dispute of 'disgusting' - accusing ministers of 'spoiling a fight' and leaving patients behind by refusing to properly engage with unions.

Only 'a few hours of talk' over pay has...