Philip Hammond defends public pay cap as opposition grows

Chancellor Philip Hammond on Monday defended the country's strict cap on public sector pay, which is a target of the opposition Labour Party and has been questioned by some senior members of the ruling Conservative Party.Hammond and Prime Minister Theresa May are under pressure to loosen the seven year-old cap which limits public sector pay increases to 1 percent a year at a time when inflation is about to hit 3 percent soon.Hammond said in a speech to business leaders that he recognised public