Intro

Are we looking at a spring of discontent? It’s the final push ahead of this week’s local elections, and what Keir Starmer wants to talk about is expanding the NHS app – which he says will cut waiting lists and end the days of the health service living in the ‘dark ages’. However, what people are actually talking about is public sector pay. The independent pay review body has recommended pay rises of around 4 per cent for teachers and nurses. Will there be industrial action? Are Labour going to be pushed into another round of public sector pay increases?

Meanwhile, after Ben Houchen’s comments this weekend, the murmurs of a Tory/Reform pact refuse to go away. Was his a helpful intervention?

Lucy Dunn speaks to James Heale and Isabel Hardman.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.