The Joker

There’s been a big welcome for Peter Kay’s decision to return to live performances. Tickets are selling like hot cakes. But he has stiff competition from the new(ish) comedian on the block, Keir Starmer (oh no, not again). In the context of nurses’ pay Keir had this cracker, saying on ITN news that he won’t “make promises I can’t keep.” His biggest fans will welcome this new line, since a couple of years ago he was happy (implicitly) to say ‘I’ll make promises I don’t intend to keep.’ Keir’s a subtle performer who’ll keep his audience waiting for the punch line until the very last minute, by which time it will be too late to know whether to laugh or cry. But seriously. Nurses are leaving the NHS faster than they can be recruited. Retention is a big issue. Nurses’ pay has shrunk since 2010. Labour has promised more nurses (just like the Tories regularly do) but where will they come from? And how will they be retained if their pay is crap? Find the money Starmer and give them what they deserve!