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Brexit could settle junior doctor dispute, says Chris Grayling Brexit could settle junior doctors' dispute, says Chris Grayling
(35 minutes later)
Chris Grayling has claimed the junior doctor dispute could be settled by Britain leaving the EU, with medics given millions of pounds in pay from the UK’s annual contribution to Brussels. Chris Grayling has claimed the junior doctors’ dispute could be settled by Britain leaving the EU, with medics given millions of pounds in pay from the UK’s annual contribution to Brussels.
The leader of the House of Commons and a prominent out campaigner said the money at the heart of the junior doctor dispute amounted to just 5% of the overall cash handed to the EU every year. The leader of the House of Commons and a prominent leave campaigner said the money at the heart of the dispute amounted to just 5% of the overall cash handed to the EU every year.
His comments before the all-out junior doctor strike on Tuesday illustrate how the debate over the EU is spreading into other aspects of government, causing tensions between cabinet ministers on either side of the debate. His comments before the all-out junior doctors’ strike on Tuesday illustrate how the debate over the EU is spreading into other aspects of government, causing tensions between cabinet ministers on either side of the debate.
It pits Grayling directly against Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, on the issue of health policy, as the government argues that the dispute is about working hours and improving patient care at weekends, rather than saving money. They pit Grayling directly against Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, on the issue of health policy, as the government argues that the dispute is about working hours and improving patient care at weekends, rather than saving money.
With hours to go before the strike, Vote Leave, the main out campaign, said the UK could afford to reintroduce automatic annual pay progression for doctors, which would cost just under £1bn.With hours to go before the strike, Vote Leave, the main out campaign, said the UK could afford to reintroduce automatic annual pay progression for doctors, which would cost just under £1bn.
“Getting to a proper seven-day NHS could make a real difference to this country. It would be so much easier to pay for that change if we took back control of our £350m a week contribution to the EU and spent it on our priorities,” Grayling said.“Getting to a proper seven-day NHS could make a real difference to this country. It would be so much easier to pay for that change if we took back control of our £350m a week contribution to the EU and spent it on our priorities,” Grayling said.
“For example, the money at the heart of the current doctors dispute is just 5% of our overall annual contribution. “For example, the money at the heart of the current doctors’ dispute is just 5% of our overall annual contribution.
“We shouldn’t be spending billions on the EU that could make our NHS better and help deal with its current challenges.”“We shouldn’t be spending billions on the EU that could make our NHS better and help deal with its current challenges.”
Downing Street immediately rejected the claims from Grayling and Vote Leave, saying the dispute was not about a shortage of money but the British Medical Association refusing to negotiate on the issue of Saturday pay.Downing Street immediately rejected the claims from Grayling and Vote Leave, saying the dispute was not about a shortage of money but the British Medical Association refusing to negotiate on the issue of Saturday pay.
Grayling’s calculation is also based on a widely disputed figure of the UK handing £350m a week to the EU, which does not take into account the billions that the UK receives as a rebate every year.Grayling’s calculation is also based on a widely disputed figure of the UK handing £350m a week to the EU, which does not take into account the billions that the UK receives as a rebate every year.
“This is not about how we save money but how we put the NHS on a stronger footing to deliver better patient care,” David Cameron’s official spokeswoman said on Monday.“This is not about how we save money but how we put the NHS on a stronger footing to deliver better patient care,” David Cameron’s official spokeswoman said on Monday.
She added: “With regards to our membership of the EU, the point we would make is that we need a strong economy to have a strong NHS.”She added: “With regards to our membership of the EU, the point we would make is that we need a strong economy to have a strong NHS.”