BMA accused of hypocrisy as its own staff threaten to strike over pay

Dispute with clerical staff over below-inflation pay rise comes as NHS resident doctors start BMA-backed strike

The British Medical Association is facing a strike over pay by its own clerical staff, prompting calls of hypocrisy as NHS resident doctors in England launch five days of strike action with the union's backing.

Talks between the BMA and the GMB union failed to come to a resolution on Tuesday, raising the prospect of a strike by clerical and administrative staff at the health union in the new year, sources said.