POLITICAL rivals in Wyre Forest have clashed over the controversial issue of the pay cap on public sector workers.

The Government defeated a Labour amendment to the Queen’s Speech calling for an end to the one per cent cap on annual pay rises for workers including nurses, firefighters, police and paramedics.

Furious Wyre Forest Labour member Stephen Brown accused the district’s Tory MP Mark Garnier of going back on a pre-election pledge of improving pay for local workers when he voted in line with his party.

But Mr Garnier hit back and said Labour’s amendment was “political posturing” as the Government was waiting for a report on a public sector pay review before making a decision.

Labour’s proposal was defeated by 14 votes – prompting cheers from some of the 323 Conservative and DUP MPs who had voted against it.

Mr Brown said: “At hustings, Mark Garnier said we have to improve pay for local workers because it is a concern but unfortunately, he has failed at the first hurdle and reneged.

“It’s the usual party line for him and his record on every issue for ordinary and vulnerable people in Wyre Forest is dreadful. He’s voted through every cut from councils to the NHS to social care to the disabled.

“So just what is he doing for local residents? We need an MP that’s going to stick up for ordinary people.”

Mr Garnier said he wasn’t in the House when the result was read out and didn’t cheer.

He said: “The Labour amendment was political posturing. There is a public sector pay review report due out and we have repeatedly said that we will wait until that is published before making any decisions. Labour know that.

“Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies says that public sector pay vs private sector pay is now restored to 2008 levels - public sector workers have been paid significantly more than private sector workers, whose wages were damaged by Labour's financial crisis.

“Stephen is talking rubbish about voting for cuts. We have increased NHS spending over the last two parliaments.

“Labour's answer is to spend other people's money without any diligence or care. This is a legacy that has been going on for around a century. Every Labour government there has ever been - every single one - had resulted in an increase in unemployment. Their plans just don't work.

“They spend recklessly and leave public finances in tatters. The latest manifestation of Labour would do this again, but this time on turbo-charge.”