‘Rishi Sunak must end strike farce by giving NHS staff the pay rise they deserve’

Union leaders in Wales have called off next week’s strikes by nurses and ambulance workers after agreeing a pay offer.

Industrial action by nurses in Scotland has been paused as they seek to negotiate a deal.

The only place in Great Britain where the strikes will go ahead is in England.

If the Welsh Government is able to find the additional money, then so can the one in Westminster. Rishi Sunak could resolve these disputes in an instant.

All he has to do is instruct the Treasury to open its purse strings and give NHS staff the pay rise they deserve and so desperately need.

His refusal to take this action is not an economic decision, but a political one. Instead of taking the path of conciliation he has opted for the route of confrontation.

When nurses in England walk out on Monday and Tuesday, everyone should know they are not to blame for the disruption.

The responsibility lies entirely with the Tories in Westminster.

Locals heroes

In many places, the local pub is the bedrock of the community.

When they close, people do not just lose a place to drink but a vital local hub.

So we should all, drinkers and non-drinkers alike, be concerned that 21 pubs shut their doors each week in the second half of last year.

The industry fears this situation could get worse when the energy support scheme for businesses is wound up at the end of March.

Some pubs’ energy bills have increased by more than 300% in the last year.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt needs to rethink the decision to withdraw support. If he presses ahead with the move, even more landlords will be calling last orders for the final time.

Fright owl

Residents in the West Midlands town of Sedgley say they are being terrorised by a great-horned owl.

The aggressive bird of prey is apparently no hoot. He’s certainly ruffled a few feathers.