doctors, urging health unions to take the proposal seriously. The offer has faced criticism from union leaders who argue that it will drive doctors out of the profession and may lead to further strikes.

The education secretary, Gillian Keegan, stated that the pay review bodies considered the need to recruit and retain NHS staff while considering the country’s high inflation rate. However, the British Medical Association deemed the offer a missed opportunity, and the Royal College of Nursing highlighted the disparity in the offer made to nurses.

As junior doctors in England continued their strike, the chances of further strikes were considered to be high by the doctors’ union. The Scottish government’s offer of a 12.4% increase for junior doctors was cited as a comparison. Cabinet ministers welcomed the acceptance of the public sector pay review bodies’ recommendations for pay rises between 5% and 7% for the next financial year.

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, stated that the government could afford the pay rises using existing departmental budgets. Keegan also addressed the issue of pupil absences in schools, emphasizing the responsibility of headteachers to ensure children attend classes.