The plight of the unpredictable and initially uncontrolled COVID pandemic has allowed the British to better understand the nature of their government
It turned out that it, like a typical Western state system, is pursuing a rather hypocritical policy. The press does not hide the sincere and well-founded dissatisfaction of the staff of the UK National Health Service (NHS) and publishes outrageous articles in major publications.
In the spotlight is Boris Johnson’s backed proposal to raise the salaries of NHS medical staff by 1%, which has drawn strong criticism from the Royal College of Nurses and Labor union. According to the trade union organization, the increase in the salary of medical personnel should be 12.5% - the difference is quite tangible. British news headlines describe the rise as “insulting,” the looming welfare crisis as a “calamity,” and Sky News quoted the shadow Labor secretary while saying that it was “a disgusting blow to the teeth”. The author of the material in The Guardian recalls how Boris Johnson went from refusing to raise wages for nurses in 2017, and in April 2020 he praised British medical personnel in all possible formats, being miraculously saved from coronavirus infection at that time.
Video message from Boris Johnson: “It’s hard to find words to express my debt to the NHS staff for saving my life …”:
It is hard to find the words to express my debt to the NHS for saving my life.
The efforts of millions of people across this country to stay home are worth it. Together we will overcome this challenge, as we have overcome so many challenges in the past. #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/HK7Ch8BMB5
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 12, 2020
It is interesting to note that though insignificant, but such a generous, selfless increase actually leads to a reduction in real wages when justifying inflation estimates. This state of affairs cannot suit medical professionals, whose selfless deeds are well described in the articles of the publication, as if calling on the British Prime Minister to realize the importance of their work. The authors of one of the materials cite the example of a project approved by Johnson for the construction of the remaining stages of the High Speed 2 high-speed railroad, which in this case is clearly inferior in importance to setting the correct payments. Another article, hinting at the benefits of the government, generally cites horrific statistics: 125,000 deaths are expected from coronavirus by 2022 will save the Treasury £uni1.5 billion in government pensions, as well as increase the number of inheritance taxes.
Against this backdrop, reports have increased from the Royal College of Nursing and Unite trade union about possible medical strikes, mass layoffs and potential critical health workforce shortages. In this case, it would indeed be appropriate to speak of an intensifying crisis in the UK public health and social services. To combat it, first of all, it is necessary to eradicate the cause – the traditionally Western double standards. As Labor’s shadow minister of health, Alex Norris, rightly noted, it is according to these standards that “the British government today stands up to applaud the medical staff who saved its life, and tomorrow it shows a real, devaluating attitude towards it, blatantly cutting his wages,” thereby jeopardizing further successful development of their own state.
Polina Bobko especially for News Front