THE MP for Chelmsford has defended her position to disagree with Labour’s plans to increase the pay cap for public sector workers, despite her position being criticised by other party leaders in the city.

The Labour Party put forward an amendment in Parliament to scrap the one per cent pay cap for public sector workers, including nurses, but it was voted against by the Tories and the Democratic Unionist Party.

The pay rate has been frozen at one per cent rises since 2010.

Vicky Ford, MP for Chelmsford said: “Please may I set the record straight and explain my position.

“This vote was a Labour amendment designed to bring down the Government.

“Because of the rules of Parliament, if the amendment had passed it would have been taken as a vote of no confidence in the entire Government. That means that the Government would have fallen and another general election would have had to have been held.

“It is quite possible that people would welcome that, but I hope pe ple will understand why as a Conservative MP I could not support it.

“Of course I want to see public sector workers paid more and I have been lobbying to that effect, but I also think it’s most important to focus on those with lower and middle income.

“The Labour amendment would have lifted the cap for all workers including those on the very highest incomes and had no detail.

“The independent salary review bodies will look at all the details before the Autumn Budget.

“The right time to address the 1 per cent pay cap for public sector workers will be at the Autumn Budget following receipt of the recommendations of those independent salary review bodies.

“I think we need to fo - cus on those with lower and middle incomes. This is why we have already increased net pay by lifting the level at which people start to pay tax.

“I know that there is a lot of pressure on household finances and that the cost of living this year has increased. Our public sector workers play a vital role in our society and we need to value them. I assure you that I will continue to focus on this issue.”

Chris Vince, from the Chelmsford Labour Party said: “It is disappointing although not surprising that Tory MPs including Chelmsford’s, along with support from their DUP allies, voted down Labour’s motion to scrap the 1 per cent pay cap to public sector workers.

“Particularly as only last year they voted for an 11 per cent pay rise for MPs. It makes a mockery of the crocodile tears that Tory MPs have spilt about the hard work the emergency services, including our Police, ambulance crews and Fire officers, do to keep us safe, in recent weeks.

“Unlike the Tories, in Labour’s manifesto we pledged to raise public sector pay in line with inflation.

“The cap has been in operation since 2010 and has led to a 15% decrease in real terms pay for some public sector workers.

“Only Labour, second party here in Chelmsford in the last General Election, will truly fight for a fair pay for our public sector workers and champion the work that they do, keeping us safe, keeping us healthy and ensuring our young people get a decent education.”

Stephen Robinson, leader of the Chelmsford Lib Dem Party said: “The Liberal Democrats think the public sector pay cap should be lifted.

“It is wrong that people that we all rely on to deliver crucial public services keep having their pay cut in real terms every year by the Con - servatives.”