Thousands of doctors across England on Friday launched a five-day strike, marking the 13th industrial action by medical workers since March 2023. The walkout, which began at 07:00 GMT, involves resident doctors medics below consultant level who constitute roughly half of the hospital workforce.

Health Minister Wes Streeting condemned the stoppage, accusing the British Medical Association (BMA) of “choosing confrontation over care.” Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Streeting argued that the dispute “isn’t about fairness any more” but “political posturing,” insisting the government would not alter its stance on pay.

He highlighted what he described as significant progress, including “a 28.9 per cent pay rise over the last three years and the highest pay award across the entire public sector in the last two.”

However, the BMA maintains that doctors remain underpaid, calling for a 26 percent pay rise to restore real-term earnings to levels last seen 20 years ago.

The association is also demanding an expansion of training posts, warning that the supply is far below demand.

According to the union, more than 30,000 doctors often compete for just 10,000 training positions required to advance into consultant roles.

This shortfall has left many qualified doctors without permanent roles despite years of intensive training, contributing to growing frustration within the profession.

The latest strike unfolds amid the UK’s prolonged cost-of-living crisis, which has fuelled a wave of industrial unrest across multiple sectors.

Over the past three and a half years, teachers, nurses, ambulance staff, lawyers, train workers and border officials have all taken strike action, underscoring deepening tensions between public sector employees and the government.