COWDENBEATH MSP Annabelle Ewing is calling on the UK Government to stop 'flip-flopping' on public sector pay and endorse the SNP’s policy to end the pay cap.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay told the Scottish Parliament last week that the “time was up” for the annual 1% limit on public sector pay.

The SNP Scottish Government is now engaging with trade unions ahead of the next Scottish budget to discuss a future public sector pay policy that recognises both rising living costs and the need for sustainable public finances in order to ensure fairer pay for nurses, teachers and all public sector workers in Fife.

Ms Ewing said: “The SNP Scottish Government has listened to independent pay recommendations - showing the nurses, doctors and police officers and many more public sector workers in Fife that their incredible service is valued and that they deserve pay that reflects real life circumstances.

“Indeed, showing public sector workers in Fife how much we value their service is ever more pertinent as we face endless Brexit uncertainty that is driving inflation, forcing up living costs and intensifying recruitment problems - risking a Brexit brain drain.

“And with some public sector workers in Fife still subject to UK wide pay policies - the Tories must act and act now to confirm that the pay cap will be scrapped.

“The clear message coming from Scotland to the Tory Government is to end austerity, and end it now.“