Junior doctors are already planning more strikes next summer (Image: Getty)
Labour has been stabbed in the back by the British Medical Association (BMA) after it emerged they are already planning further strikes despite this week’s multi-billion pound offer by Wes Streeting.
Leaked WhatsApp messages have revealed that a senior figure in the BMA has already told colleagues that there will be another “window of opportunity” for striking within 12 months.
Robert Laurenson, co-chairman of the junior doctor committee on the union, said health patients will have to deal with yet more delayed appointments “when Labour’s honeymoon period ends”.
Despite being offered an eye-watering 22% pay rise deal just this week, Mr Laurenson texted colleagues that the BMA could get away with further strikes as soon as 2025 once Labour is more “politically vulnerable”.
He WhatsApped colleagues: “I believe that the Labour government are utterly ruthless at the moment as they establish themselves in Government, and the power dynamic has swung too far towards them for us to successfully achieve anything via strikes right now.
READ MORE: Doctors' union BMA is starting to look a lot like Arthur Scargill's militant ...
Robert Laurenson said they could strike more in 12 months (Image: Getty)
“I think the earliest time for the next window of opportunity is about 12 months away.
“Now others may disagree with my evaluation and I may well be wrong… I would consider striking with a low threshold for 2025/26 when Labour’s honeymoon period ends and they make some sort of mistake that leaves them politically vulnerable.”
The text, unearthed by The Times, saw Mr Laurenson add that he “desperately wanted to get more - either more now or more certainty for the future” from Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
He ominously concluded: “Strike action HAS worked. The BMA IS strong. And strike action WILL work again in the future.”
Responding to the story, Mr Laurenson has now admitted these are his views, and said he told Wes Streeting “as much in the room to his face”.
Don't miss...
Nigel Farage's five-word slapdown as he’s called ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit’ [LATEST]
Tory pensions minister predicts Winter Fuel Payment cut ‘will not last’ [LATEST]
Outrage as Labour makes 'crazy move' in plot to bring UK closer to EU [EXCLUSIVE]
Wes Streeting has been warned by the BMA organiser to expect further strikes (Image: Getty)
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
The senior union organiser added: “He risks over promising and under delivering.”
However the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank has now warned this is proof that Britain is set for a sustained period of industrial unrest under the Labour Government.
Head of Communications Matthew Less said: “The government capitulating to union demands after a long-running strikes exacerbates future disputes”.
“Every public sector union has now learnt to strike harder and longer next time to get their demands.”
Junior doctors originally demanded a whopping 35% pay hike to achieve “full pay restoration” to 2008 levels.
The deal announced by Wes Streeting this week provides for a 22% uplift, and will cost ￡1.1billion over the next two years.
Trending
Victoria Atkins MP, Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary said:
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Andrew Neil slams Rachel Reeves and issues brutal two-word warning to Labour
251 Comments
I was in the House of Commons when Rachel Reeves shredded her credibility
439 Comments
Next Tory leader issued urgent warning by Boris Johnson and other ex party chiefs
175 Comments
Labour set to axe major infrastructure projects in bid to close ‘blackhole'
280 Comments
Rachel Reeves hands junior doctors 22.3% payrise - and it's you who it will cost
48 Comments
Rachel Reeves plotting tax 'bombshell' as Labour warned hikes will 'kill growth'
387 Comments
Rachel Reeves has shocked even me with how quickly Labour have taken us for fools
67 Comments
Economy warning as pound weakens ahead of Rachel Reeves announcement
66 Comments
Labour's new economic agenda will kill growth and stifle investment
33 Comments
Winter fuel allowance scrapped for millions of pensioners
2491 Comments
'You won't tax working people?' Labour minister in fiery clash over ￡20bn 'black hole'
53 Comments
Labour's next benefits target: free NHS prescriptions for over-60s
442 Comments
Rachel Reeves has capitulated to her union overlords - and this is just the beginning
46 Comments
Outrage as Labour make 'crazy move' in plot to bring UK closer to EU
1291 Comments
Rachel Reeves 'betrayed' voters by ditching the cap on social care costs, expert says
141 Comments
Junior doctors offered 20% pay rise by Government to end strike action
965 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasting for handing inflation-busting pay rise to junior doctors
110 Comments
Rachel Reeves called heartless for stripping 10 million pensioners of winter fuel payments
186 Comments
Rachel Reeves accused of misleading the public over the state of the country's finances
691 Comments
UK firms addicted to cheap foreign labour - and British workers are sidelined
54 Comments
Andrew Neil slams Rachel Reeves and issues brutal two-word warning to Labour
251 Comments
I was in the House of Commons when Rachel Reeves shredded her credibility
439 Comments
Next Tory leader issued urgent warning by Boris Johnson and other ex party chiefs
175 Comments
Labour set to axe major infrastructure projects in bid to close ‘blackhole'
280 Comments
Rachel Reeves hands junior doctors 22.3% payrise - and it's you who it will cost
48 Comments
Rachel Reeves plotting tax 'bombshell' as Labour warned hikes will 'kill growth'
387 Comments
Rachel Reeves has shocked even me with how quickly Labour have taken us for fools
67 Comments
Economy warning as pound weakens ahead of Rachel Reeves announcement
66 Comments
Labour's new economic agenda will kill growth and stifle investment
33 Comments
Winter fuel allowance scrapped for millions of pensioners
2491 Comments
'You won't tax working people?' Labour minister in fiery clash over ￡20bn 'black hole'
53 Comments
Labour's next benefits target: free NHS prescriptions for over-60s
442 Comments
Rachel Reeves has capitulated to her union overlords - and this is just the beginning
46 Comments
Outrage as Labour make 'crazy move' in plot to bring UK closer to EU
1291 Comments
Rachel Reeves 'betrayed' voters by ditching the cap on social care costs, expert says
141 Comments
Junior doctors offered 20% pay rise by Government to end strike action
965 Comments
Rachel Reeves blasting for handing inflation-busting pay rise to junior doctors
110 Comments
Rachel Reeves called heartless for stripping 10 million pensioners of winter fuel payments
186 Comments
Rachel Reeves accused of misleading the public over the state of the country's finances
691 Comments
UK firms addicted to cheap foreign labour - and British workers are sidelined
54 Comments
Andrew Neil slams Rachel Reeves and issues brutal two-word warning to Labour
251 Comments
I was in the House of Commons when Rachel Reeves shredded her credibility
439 Comments
Next Tory leader issued urgent warning by Boris Johnson and other ex party chiefs
175 Comments
Labour set to axe major infrastructure projects in bid to close ‘blackhole'
280 Comments
Rachel Reeves hands junior doctors 22.3% payrise - and it's you who it will cost
48 Comments
Rachel Reeves plotting tax 'bombshell' as Labour warned hikes will 'kill growth'
387 Comments
Rachel Reeves has shocked even me with how quickly Labour have taken us for fools
67 Comments
“For more than a year, Labour refused to condemn union strikes that harmed patients. Now, they have caved into union demands with a budget-busting 22 per cent pay increase for junior doctors, paid off the back of vulnerable pensioners and promised tax rises.
“Yet the junior doctors’ committee are already preparing to strike again because they know that the Labour Chancellor won’t stand up to the unions or take the difficult decisions to do what is right for the whole country.
“The new Labour Government must stand up to their union paymasters or it is patients and the public who will pay the price with more strikes and higher taxes.”