How are the Tories responding to Labour's pay freeze?

emil

All rather childish of Darling to be honest, and quite cowardly, since he's twice had the chance to announce this in front of assembled trade union brethren over recent weeks and somehow managed not to.

Chris lancashire

I should think the Conservatives will say "thanks very much" and add it to the pile of much-needed savings.
As to the timing of the announcement, it's all we've come to expect from a spinning, duplicious, spiteful Labour party.

Mark Cannon

People will notice the timing as they did 2 years ago when Brown tried a similar stunt. And the pay freeze/1% limit makes a nonsense of Labour's canard that the Tories would cut now, while they would wait until later.

Rob Atkins

Interestingly, Darling's comment flatly contradicts what Brown said in his ill-fated interview with the BBC morning presenter on, I think 30 September. Brown : " There will be no pay freeze" Darling : "There will be a pay freeze" ... So, one of them was lying, or they don't talk to each other, or they're making it up as they go along ... You choose !

TrevorsDen

Surely this is bad news for labour. It shows how serious the situation is and the austerity that lies ahead. All labours fult.

And since the middle classes are going to be hit hardest - its politically beneficial for labour to strike the first blow.

Article 38

You have phrased the question incorrectly; it is a Conservative pay freeze policy that Labour has 'borrowed'.

Alun Reynolds

This is easy to say and difficult to do anyway. Each Govt department has delegated authority to set terms and conditions. Under this, many of them will have already entered into 2 and 3 year deals with the unions. I can't wait to see them try to make this stick.

Ian Walker

I think they'll thank Labour for a) being sneaky cowards yet again, and b) starting the debate off.

The civil service has become fond of the bonus culture - so let's have no bonuses for any department that contributes to the budget defecit. Nice and easy!

Dick the Prick

Good. Now when will they announce a recruitment freeze?

Dirty Euro

It is only senior staff so who cars They get too much money. The tories want to freeze the pay of lower staff. As always. Payment for top civil servants is too high.

Ian C

This is one of the most pathetic stunts Labour havve tried to pull. If this is their idea of trying to cream off positive headlines, their poll ratings can only plummet much lower. Bring it on..!

Senor Frizby

The rats in the Labour party can't help trying to get a word in. In this instance it was the totally ineffectual Captain Darling.

Nobody listens to Labour anymore - my only memory of their conference is of some enraged lunatic tearing up a newspaper on a podium - rock on!

Irene

Cheap shot which has totally backfired.

Sir Graphus

Perhaps they're just burying bad news.

michael

The freeze-wheeze
-yet another soundbite tease.
Darling Alistair...oh please
-more 'scrawled on fag packet' policies.

Liz Brown

Just what one would expect from the sleazeballs who pretend to be the Labour Party

Nicholas

Stooge with ludicrous eyebrows does Evil Master's bidding.

john miller

Oh, how wonderfully Labour!

I guarrantee that at this moment they are saying to the Brothers - don't worry, it's only a political ploy.

Ever an opposition, never a government.