Our Survey Said

I smiled to myself the other day - when I read a news report about the country's doctors going on strike to defend their pensions.

The report was based on a survey carried out by the doctors' trade union - the British Medical Association (BMA) - which claimed that two-thirds of GPs and hospital-based doctors are prepared to down tools - if the government does not back down.

Now I like my GP and I have great admiration for many though not all doctors - but that's neither here nor there.

The point is that medical staff are one group of public sector workers whose salaries have improved hugely - out of sight over the past 10 or 12 years.

Thanks to a very generous deal - some would say far too generous a deal - struck by the last Labour government.

And of course a 'survey' of what BMA members would like to happen - or not happen as the case may be - is a great deal different from carrying out a strike ballot.

Because the issues would have to be set out clearly - or at least more clearly than they are at the moment - which would involve explaining to the public just what any such strike would be about.

Now I don't know about anyone else - but I can't see why the BMA believes that some of the highest paid people in the land - should be entitled to retire before the rest of us.

How can that be fair?

If the job is stressful - then by all means retire early, take a reduced pension and enjoy the quiet life. 

But that's not what all this is about - it's about some people having their cake - and being able to eat it at the same time.

If a doctor earning £160,00 retires on a full pension - they will be paid something like £240,000 as a tax free lump sum - and then £80,000 a year for the rest of their life.

To most people that's a film star pension - not least because the person concerned is being treated as having earned £160,000 every year - for the whole of their working life.

Which they haven't - the pension is artificially inflated, boosted by me and you - and the hospital cleaner earning less than £7.00 an hour.

So if the BMA proceeds to a ballot - I predict they will lose and that strike action won't take place.

If it did, the nation's doctors would need their heads examined.