nurses
A department of health source told HuffPost UK: "The government’s position on pay is unchanged - the country cannot afford to meet the unions’ inflation-busting demands."
The outspoken pundit took aim at the government while covering the World Cup final.
Tory pressure is mounting on the prime minister as the winter of discontent continues.
Shadow health secretary says the health service is "failing patients on a daily basis".
One senior Conservative has told the PM to end the "machismo and chest beating".
"Nurses are coming into work to care for other people and no one’s caring for them."
Former party chairman Jake Berry has called on ministers to come up with more cash to end the strikes.
The nursing boss has warned that strike action could continue in January unless the government gets around the table.
"Ministers are more interested in playing political football with disputes than resolving them".
The Labour leader also backed Wes Streeting in his row with doctors' union the BMA.