A clear majority of Tory voters believe the pay proposition is too low, a new poll found.

Party analysis indicates that the cumulative effect of an immediate council tax rise, an effective pay cut and a looming freeze to income tax thresholds will leave a newly qualified nurse with £307 less in their pocket by 2023.

French exports to the UK plummeted by 13 per cent in January compared to the average of the previous six months.

The Perseverance rover ventured from its landing position on Thursday, two weeks after setting down on the red planet to seek signs of past life.

Professor Sharon Peacock - head of the Covid-19 Genomics UK scientific body - said the country was well-equipped to “stay ahead” of the virus by quickly adapting vaccines.

“For me, this is, from a moral perspective, the wrong time to be applying pay restraint," MP Dr Dan Poulter said.

Unison said people should stand on their doorsteps and balconies to protest next Thursday - 11 March - at 8pm to show what they think about the planned “derisory” wage increase.

NHS Providers is challenging the government over its defence of the recommendation for health workers to receive a one per cent increase, which Labour says is a “real-terms cut” to wages.

Labour questioned the prime minister’s priorities for shelling out millions on “vanity projects” while “picking the pockets” of NHS workers.