NHS consultants offer to call off strikes for 12% pay rise in apparent olive branch

BMA also offers to take non-pay investments into account to reach agreement - but No 10 insists pay talks will not be reopened

Hospital consultants in England have offered to call off their strikes if they receive a pay rise of about 12% this year - double the increase that ministers insist is their final offer.

Their proposal, and the disclosure of recent constructive" conversations with the government, appear to be a conciliatory move by the British Medical Association (BMA) to end their pay dispute.