Dua Lipa uses Brit Awards acceptance speech to call for NHS pay rise

Dua Lipa used her acceptance speech at the Brit Awards to urge Boris Johnson to give NHS workers a pay rise.

The singer picked up the female solo artist award and announced she would be sharing her trophy with Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, the emeritus professor of nursing at the University of West London.

She said Dame Elizabeth has said there is a “massive disparity between gratitude and respect for frontline workers”.

Lipa added: “It’s very good to clap for them, but we need to pay them.

“I think what we should do is we should all give a massive, massive round of applause and give Boris (Johnson) a message that we all support a fair pay rise for our front line.”

Her speech was met with rapturous applause from the crowd, which contained 2,500 people working on the front line of the pandemic in the Greater London area.

Lipa’s Future Nostalgia was named best album, giving the singer her second gong of the night.

Accepting the award, Lipa - who wore bespoke Vivienne Westwood - said recording the album had taught her “love and friendship” and thanked the songwriters, producers and artists she worked alongside.

She dedicated the gong to Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, who was known as Jimi, who recently died after jumping into the River Thames to save a woman.

NHS workers in the audience at the awards said they were thrilled to be attending because “it feels like you are being appreciated”.

An audience of 4,000 was at the ceremony, hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, as part of the Government’s live events pilot scheme.

Award recipients have been given a “double trophy” which comes in two parts.

They have been encouraged to give one part of their trophy to someone else.

Lipa also celebrated the progress made with female representation at the awards.

“Last time I was up here accepting this award in 2018 I said that I wanted to see more women on these stages,” she said.

“And I feel so proud that three years later, we are seeing that happen and it really is such an honour to be part of this wave of women in music.”

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner voiced her support on Twitter.

She wrote: “Well said @DUALIPA. Claps don’t pay the bills, our NHS heroes need a proper pay rise now.”

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