A demonstration in support of strikers is seen in central Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023.

When Labour won an election landslide last year, they promised to end the public sector strikes which had bedevilled the Tories.

To their credit, the new government delivered – agreeing a pay deal with resident (formerly known as junior) doctors in September 2024, leading to the British Medical Association calling off their long-running industrial action.

Resident doctors agreed to a 5.4% pay rise for this financial year, which is set to kick in from August, on top of the 22% increase they had received the previous two years.

But all of that progress appears to fallen apart in recent months, leading to the BMA announcing that their members will go on strike for five consecutive days later this month.

So how did we end up here again?

Why are resident doctors threatening to strike?

According to the BMA, wages for resident doctors are still around 20% lower in real terms than they were in 2008 – even after the recent pay hikes they’ve received.

The chair of the BMA council, Professor Philip Banfield, warned health secretary Wes Streeting in June that his members would strike again unless he came up with more money.

He said: “The only path that will avoid strike action is the one that leads doctors to full pay restoration.”

The union followed up on their threat on Tuesday, announcing they had “a clear mandate to strike” with support from more than 90% of its members who had voted in a strike ballot.

The BMA also claimed it had met with the government to try and avoid strike action, but ministers are refusing to negotiate.

On Wednesday, they confirmed they would be staging a walkout from 7am on July 25 to 7am on July 30.

That means ministers have a fortnight to negotiate – or there will be more industrial action.

Resident doctors’ basic salaries in England can range from £37,000 to £70,000 a year for a 40-hour week depending on their experience.

That does not include the 5.4% pay award for this year, while extra payments are available for those who work nightshifts and........

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