Ministers refuse to negotiate with nurses on pay to prevent NHS strikes

Government rebuffs union offer to suspend action in return for talks, saying it can't depart from review body's recommendation

Ministers have rebuffed an offer by nursing unions to suspend planned strikes in return for negotiations on pay, arguing that it was not possible for the government to amend awards decided by the independent pay body for NHS staff.

The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday show that the health secretary would happily talk to the unions, but only about improving NHS performance and working conditions, and not about pay.