The level of internal pressure for the abandonment of austerity puts chancellor Philip Hammond under huge pressure to consider raising taxes to fund any extra public spending. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jeremy Hunt is reportedly prepared to take on Hammond and call for the lifting of the pay cap for NHS workers. Over the same period, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has called for an end to austerity and the public sector pay cap, has soared in public esteem. Theresa May's ratings slump in wake of general election – poll Read moreLast week Tory MPs were ordered to vote down a Labour amendment to the Queen’s speech calling for an end to the public sector pay cap. Many Tories say the £1bn deal to secure the support of the DUP has made the case for the public sector pay cap impossible to defend.

Source: The Guardian July 01, 2017 21:00 UTC