Think Labour are done with doctor’s strikes? Think again.

This article appeared as part of the Daily Sensemaker newsletter – one story a day to make sense of the world. To receive it in your inbox, featuring content exclusive to the newsletter, sign up for free here.

Labour thought they had finally drawn a line under doctors' strikes after agreeing a deal with resident doctors last week. Now NHS consultants have voted in favour of walkouts. Consultants earn an average of £152,000, but the British Medical Association says their salaries have shrunk by 26% in real terms since 2008. This is similar to the position the union took on behalf of resident doctors, although it settled for less. The BMA also wants to shorten the working week of consultants from 40 to 37.5 hours. Only 51.53% of eligible members took part in the vote, just above the legal threshold of 50% required for strike action, although a large majority of these members were in favour. They now have a mandate to stage walkouts within 12 months.