Tony Blair has appeared to promise that health workers will continue to receive above-inflation pay rises.

During a question and answer session in Liverpool with staff at University Hospital, Aintree, the prime minister was asked what he would do to stop American hospitals poaching British staff.

He replied: "We make sure that we keep people's pay rises above the rate of inflation."

Meanwhile, in a speech in Liverpool later today, the prime minister will restate his party's "progressive mission" to build a fairer society.