BBC Breakfasts Jon Kay sparks uproar over doctors strike interview

Jon Kay surprised by pay increase demand

BBC Breakfast presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent were joined by Dr Emma Runswick to discuss the first day of the junior doctor’s strikes. During their discussion, Emma outlined how big of a pay rise the doctors were striking for which left Jon astonished by the amount. This left viewers of the show furious with Jon’s attitude and reaction, leaving them to take to their social media accounts.

Emma explained: “We have been asking Steve [Barclay] to put forward a credible offer for months and months and months.

“We even offered last week to suspend the strike action, even at short notice if the health secretary was willing to put forward a credible offer on the table.

“He has declined to do so, we’ve had no offer whatsoever, and we are not included in the wider NHS offer.

“We’ve had absolutely nothing but more and more pre-conditions. At the last set of industrial actions, we maintained safe care, urgent, critical and maternity care.

“They were all maintained. We had regular meetings with NHS England, and I am fairly confident that safety can be maintained through strike action by junior doctors.

“But it does cause disruption, it is not something any of us want, what we want is pay restoration so that we can reverse our workforce crisis and get back to giving patients the care they really deserve.”

Jon asked: “You say that he needs to come up with a credible offer, he says you need to come down from your demand of 35 per cent.

“The ball is in your court as well here isn’t it?” to which Emma began to explain why the ball wasn’t in their court, however, Jon quipped: “35 per cent…”

Emma continued: “We have been asking since last August for a reversal of the real terms pay cuts that we have suffered since 2008.

“We have lost 26.1 per cent since 2008, if you take £25 away from £100, that is £75. To get £25 back, that is a third of £25, so we are only asking for a reversal of pay cuts.”

Jon once again interrupted Emma and jibed: “Only… 35 per cent is not really ‘only’ is it?”

Emma stood her ground and added: “We have had that position for a long time, Steve Barclay refused to discuss this with us.

“We are happy to negotiate, this is not a situation where we are fixed in our position, we are looking for negotiations and Steve Barclay isn’t willing to even talk to us.”

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Viewers of the show were furious at Jon’s attitude towards Emma and what junior doctors were asking, taking to their Twitter accounts to express their frustration.

@mister2988 slammed: “Disgraceful behaviour by the fundamentally unwatchable John Kay. Disrespectful, poorly informed, smug and indefensible.

“Only thing worse than going back to work today is waking up to that useless p**t on my screen.” (sic)

@mactabilis_ fumed: “@BBCBreakfast such a great interview from the Doctor, terrible journalism today, she handed YOU yer arse John and Sally, you had no comeback.”

@chipsdelicious commented: “@BBCBreakfast his interview with the BMA representative is really poor. Both presenters being completely clueless about how pay cuts have affected NHS workers.

“It’s the government’s fault, not the doctors. Everyone knows that, support them. #bbcbreakfast #bbc.” (sic)

@2wheelerwidow penned: “@BBCBreakfast please please for once be on the side of the Doctors, Nurses and NHS. Stop grilling the representatives as if they are the bad guys.

“They ARE NOT – the fault is with the Tories and their consistent underfunding and tearing up of all things NHS.” (sic)

@markhanson67 added: “Come on BBC it doesn’t seem very balanced reporting. Hammering the junior doctors for disruption but not Hammering the government for poor pay and the health minister refusing to negotiate.” (sic)

Denise said: “@BBCBreakfast Honestly, John, you aren’t exactly being sympathetic this morning are you? There’s never a good time for a strike and I doubt you’d work the same hours for the pay these Drs are on.” (sic)

Other fans were left angered by the doctor’s response with @Ianthesaint63 tweeting:” @BBCBreakfast who is this unreasonable ridiculous woman spouting rubbish? 35% pay increase! You’re having a laugh!” (sic)

BBC Breakfast airs everyday from 6am on BBC One.

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