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The Times Radio host confronted the Labour frontbencher on the latest announcement from Chancellor Rishi Sunak suggesting the public sector must expect pay restraints in the future despite the promised 3 percent pay increase promised to key workers forced to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Thomas-Symonds said the news was “deeply concerning” adding: “Firstly, of course, I welcome you know, for example, police, for whom I you know, the Home Office is responsible, getting two and a half percent rise. I think, of course, I’m pleased to see public servants having additional money.

“But, number one, it doesn’t make up for the many years of pay freezes we’ve had in the past.

“And secondly, as well, I am extremely concerned that what Rishi Sunak seems to be flagging, is that the reward of everyone for the work they’ve done to get through this pandemic our key workers, the incredible work they’ve done, is going to be more austerity because I don’t think that’s the right thing to do.”

To which the radio host followed: “I’ve asked this before, and it seems to me politically viable for you, as the Labour Party have said, if it’s not going to be cutting public sector spending, it has to be taxing rich people, doesn’t it, you have to get to the point where you’re going to be saying we will tax rich people either in the form of a wealth tax or something else more in order to pay for this?”

In an attempt to dodge the direct question, the Labour MP said: “Well, no, I don’t think that this is a moment where the economy as it is to start talking about tax rates is the focus of the Government has to it has to be jobs, jobs, jobs, as we’ve said, it has to be growing the economy.”

But the radio host promptly blasted: “That won’t be enough to pay your tax revenues. Why does no one ever want to answer the question where how do we pay?

“How do we pay for this? Because growing the economy is not an answer, because it won’t pay for it all in the end!”

The Labour MP replied: “Well, the growing economy will give you additional tax revenues. But I think what we have to look at at the moment is our overall economic approach. I mean, what precisely we say in terms of tax and spending is a way off yet for the 2024 general election. I’m sure you would expect me to write the Labour manifesto now.

“But what I am saying to you is that I do think now is the moment for tax rises because of the precarious state the economy is in.

“And secondly, we’ve seen the tremendous work our public sector have done I don’t think the way to reward them is simply to say, well, you can’t expect any pay rises in the future because I think that sends a signal to them but their value that’s simply wrong.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has revealed public sector workers will receive a pay rise.

He said the increase in their salaries is in recognition of the “vital” contribution they have made throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The Treasury said the money would come from existing departmental budgets and see pay increases up to 3.1 percent for some roles.

Mr Sunak said: “These past months have underlined what we always knew, that our public sector workers make a vital contribution to our country and that we can rely on them when we need them.

“It’s right, therefore, that we follow the recommendations of the independent pay bodies with this set of real-terms pay rises.”

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In total 900,000 workers will benefit from these pay rises, with teachers and doctors seeing the largest increase at 3.1 percent and 2.8 percent respectively.

Police, prison officers and National Crime Agency staff will also see pay increases, in addition to armed forces.

Members of the judiciary and senior civil servants are also seeing their pay topped up.

But the announcement has received backlash from nurses who are not included in the pay rises.

In addition to nurses, council workers and job centre staff will not see their pay increase either.

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