AFZAL Anwar, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Pendle, has slammed NHS bosses for getting pay hikes while frontline staff take cuts.

Mr Anwar said: “As a result of tight fiscal control, nurses were given just 1.9 per cent – below inflation – even though the NHS Pay Review Body had recommended they receive 2.5 per cent.

“There seems to be one rule for hard-working nurses, and another for top bureaucrats at the Department of Health.

“Is it not hypocritical of civil servants to award themselves pay rises like this while telling the nurses they must accept an effective pay cut?”