‘Pathetic’: Andy Murray criticises government over 1% pay rise for NHS workers

Tennis star Andy Murray described the government’s 1 per cent pay rise for NHS workers as “pathetic” at Wimbledon yesterday.

Murray was asked about key workers, whose contribution has been recognised throughout the tournament, after his second-round win.

At a glance: 5 key points

– Murray said it was “fantastic” that many frontline workers had been invited to the tournament and that their contribution was being recognised

– But he said the government’s proposed pay rise of 1% was “pathetic” and that they “obviously deserve a lot more than that

– The government has said it can only afford a 1 per cent pay rise, while Labour has said it should offer at least the 2.1 promised last year, while the Royal College of Nursing called for 12.5 per cent

– One of the co-creators of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine, Oxford University’s Dame Sarah Gilbert, received a standing ovation earlier this week when her presence was announced

– Hannah Ingram, daughter of Captain Sir Tom Moore, also received a standing ovation

What’s been said?

Andy Murray said: “I think the whole country kind of realised how important they all are, and maybe hadn’t got the recognition that they probably deserve up until now.

“So, yeah, it’s fantastic that they have been able to come along and watch some of the tennis. Hopefully they can enjoy it and, yeah, hopefully the politicians can realise that they deserve more than what they are getting paid just now.

“I think, what is it, they got something like a 1% pay rise? It was pathetic. So, yeah, they obviously deserve a lot more than that. They have done an amazing job getting us through the pandemic.”

Asked about the proposed pay rise in March, Boris Johnson said: "What we have done is try to give them as much as we can at the present time.

"Don't forget that there has been a public sector pay freeze, we're in pretty tough times."