Fury after civil service pay rises capped at 3% amid surging inflation

Government move shows utter contempt' for service that has worked through pandemic, say unions

Public sector unions have reacted with fury after ministers announced that pay increases across the civil service would be pegged at an average of 2% for the year ahead, despite surging inflation.

In a written statement published on Thursday, the Cabinet Office minister Heather Wheeler said public sector employers would have freedom to pay average awards up to 2%", plus up to an extra percentage point in some cases, to be targeted at specific priorities in their workforce and pay strategies".