A BRADFORD Councillor was chosen to introduce Sir Keir Starmer for the launch of Labour's election campaign.

Cllr Aneela Ahmed (City, Labour) took to the virtual podium today and spoke about her experiences as a frontline worker during the pandemic.

Cllr Ahmed works as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, handling 999 calls at the Trust’s Wakefield Emergency Operations Centre. 

Giving her backing to the leader, Cllr Ahmed claimed the controversial one per cent pay rise for NHS workers had left many feeling "forgotten".

Speaking before the launch, she said: "As a frontline worker the past year has been really tough. I've seen the awful impact of this pandemic day in, day out.

"I've seen the huge toll it has taken on our NHS colleagues. We are all so tired. We're all also so determined not to give up. We will see our country through this crisis. 

"Alongside all the other key workers we are proud of the role that we have played. But after the efforts of this past year and all the pain it's such a kick in the teeth to see the Conservative Government forget me and my colleagues.

"Ministers had warm words for us during the height of the pandemic but now we feel betrayed. They said we were Britain's heroes, we were our country's lifeline. They clapped at the doorsteps.

"But now they want to cut our pay in real terms and they want to cut NHS funding.

"Key workers have given everything in the past year but we feel forgotten by this Government. Warm words and claps are meaningless if they aren't backed up with action. I'm angry. I know my colleagues are too."

Mr Starmer focused in on the issue during the virtual launch and said the increase should be "above inflation, a real rise".

He declined to back a 12.5 per cent increase proposed by the Royal College of Nurses.

Mr Starmer said: "I think the starting point should be the 2.1 per cent that was promised and was, of course, budgeted for."

With threats of industrial action and demonstrations planned across England, a poll at the weekend suggested 72 per cent of the population thought the rise is too low, including 58 per cent of Tory voters.

However, polling has also highlighted the struggle Sir Keir is facing, with national voting intentions consistently putting the Conservatives ahead of Labour.

Voting on May 6 will include polls for district and county councils in England, police and crime commissioners and city mayors, including in London.