The chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board says the hard work of the sector during the pandemic must be recognised as the chancellor moves to put a squeeze on public sector salaries.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce another squeeze on public sector pay in this week’s spending review. It is understood that some NHS staff - doctors and nurses -  will be exempt from the continued pay freeze to avoid an angry backlash from the public. But highlighting the work of local government during the pandemic, Cllr Ian Hudspeth told The MJ that on pay, ‘parity with the NHS is absolutely vital, particularly for social care’.