Boost for key public service workers' pay under Lib Dem plans : £527 for nurses, £912 for teachers; £471 for police

Liberal Democrats have announced they would end years of pay restraint for nurses, teachers and police by lifting the 1% cap on public sector pay and increases wages in line with inflation.

Under Liberal Democrat plans, the 2575 teachers working in Newcastle would get an average pay rise of £912 by 2021, while the 5688 police working for Northumbria would see their pay boosted by £471.

The plans would also lead to an estimated pay rise of £527 for the 3518 nurses working for the Newcastle Hospital Foundation Trust by 2021, helping to tackle the shortage of nurses and potential strikes over pay this summer.

In contrast, the Conservative's public sector pay cap combined with rising inflation since the Brexit vote will mean that by 2021, the average nurse will be nearly £4000 worse off.

The announcement comes as a survey by the Royal College of Nursing has revealed nine out of 10 nursing leaders say they are worried about their ability to recruit nurses and that there are an estimated 40,000 nursing vacancies in the NHS.

Liberal Democrat candidates Wendy Taylor, Anita Lower and Nick Cott say

"Public sector workers in Newcastle are facing a double blow at the hands of this Conservative government, with years of pitiful increases to pay combined with a Brexit squeeze caused by soaring inflation.

"Our NHS and schools are already struggling to recruit the staff they need.

"Living standards are falling, prices are rising and nurses are reported as going to food banks - but Theresa May doesn't care.

"A better future is possible. The Liberal Democrats will stand up for our schools and hospitals and give hard-working nurses, teachers and police the pay rise they deserve."