A LIB Dem promise on the public sector pay cap could see Yorkshire nurses get a £527 pay rise by 2021.

The party has made an election pledge to lift the one per cent cap on public sector pay rises, and increase wages in line with inflation.

Under the plans, the Liberal Democrats say more than 49,000 teachers working in Yorkshire and the Humber would get an average pay rise of £894 by 2021, while the almost 10,000 police working in the region would see their pay boosted by £471.

The plans would also lead to an estimated pay rise of £527 for 27,000 nurses, helping to tackle the shortage of nurses and potential strikes over pay this summer.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: “Public sector workers in Yorkshire and the Humber are facing a double blow at the hands of this Conservative government, with years of pitiful increases in pay combined with rising prices.

“Our NHS and schools are already struggling to recruit the staff they need.

“Living standards are falling, prices are rising and nurses are going to food banks – but the Tories doesn’t care.

“The Liberal Democrats will stand up for our schools and hospitals and give hard-working nurses, teachers and police the pay rise they deserve.”

The Royal College of Nurses last week revealed as many as one in ten nursing posts in the NHS are vacant.