HEXHAM's MP has insisted “money is tight” when asked about strikes.

Guy Opperman was speaking on Question Time in Bishop Auckland when he was asked if “Britain was broken” in connection with strikes involving rail workers and postal workers - as well as others - over pay and conditions.

Employment Minister Mr Opperman, who has represented Hexham since 2010, appeared on the BBC’s Question Time on Thursday, December 8 as the show visited the North East.

Mr Opperman said the Government “clearly” supported public sector workers and pointed to the measures in place to support the public through the cost of living crisis, such as the energy support grant scheme.

He added that it was “right and proper” that the Government and workers accepted the view of the independent pay review bodies.

Mr Opperman continued: “At the same time we’re trying to keep inflation under control. Some of the requests for pay rises are simply unsustainable in the circumstances that exist in the country today, where money is tight and when public sector money is tight as well."

Labour shadow cabinet minister Lucy Powell, who was on the same panel, argued that nurses in particular were feeling “a lot of stress” and the NHS was facing “huge backlogs and pressures” as well as suffering from abuse.

The Royal College of Nursing has strikes planned for the first time in its history on Thursday, December 15 and Tuesday, December 20 “unless Government negotiations are able to pause the action.” RCN has committed to a “life-preserving care model” during industrial action.

The RCN argues that nurses have endured a real-terms wage cut of 20 per cent since 2010, while nursing staff vacancies have hit record levels as NHS trusts struggle to recruit and retain staff. Nurses are calling for a pay rise of five per cent above inflation, as well as better working conditions.

The Government has offered £1,400 extra a year. Mr Opperman added: “Bluntly, there is a difficult circumstance”, and blamed Vladamir Putin’s war in Ukraine. He also pointed out that there are now 32,000 more nurses than in 2019, but accepted that demand was increasing.