Updated / Tuesday, 11 May 2021
22:01
Dua Lipa: It s very good to clap for them, but we need to pay them.
Dua Lipa used her acceptance speech at the Brit Awards to call for a pay rise for UK healthcare workers.
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.
1 h
Share with:
Dua Lipa urged British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to give National Health Service staff a pay rise as she landed a double victory at Tuesday s BRIT Awards.
Dua was the big winner at the ceremony, taking home awards for Album of the Year and British Female Solo Artist, and while accepting her first gong, she honoured healthcare workers for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. She also announced she would be sharing her award with nurse Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, the emeritus professor of nursing at the University of West London. She has spent her stellar nursing career fighting racial injustice, Dua said. She has also spent so much time and is a strong, strong advocate for protecting frontline workers.
Search
Brit Awards 2021 highlights: Dua Lipa s NHS pay rise call, a Taylor Swift surprise, and live music returns It was the UK s return to indoor live music, marking the start of the road back to normality - and this year s Brit Awards struck just the right tone, with lively performances and stand-out fashion as well as poignant and political moments.
With (almost) no virtual elements, and no social distancing or masks -
as part of a government testing scheme - the ceremony certainly made for a much better watch for viewers at home than others such as the BAFTAs and the Oscars earlier this year.
Pop star Dua Lipa backs calls for a ‘fair pay rise’ for nurses
Dua Lipa at the Brit Awards
International pop star Dua Lipa paid tribute to the nursing profession during a prestigious music awards event by dedicating one of her wins to a high-profile nurse, while signalling her support for a “fair pay rise” for nurses.
During an acceptance speech for best female solo artist at the Brit Awards last night, the singer stressed that while it was “very good to clap” for frontline workers, “we need to pay them”. It is very good to clap for them, but we need to pay them
JMEnternationalGetty Images
Last night saw the world take another step towards normality as the BRITs took place in-person, after a year of virtual award ceremonies. Along with the return of the red carpet, plenty of trophy recipients used their voices to spread important messages, with Little Mix paying tribute to girl bands of the past who were overlooked, and Dua Lipa directly addressing Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This is sick! Wow, thank you so much, Dua began her speech, whilst holding her Best Female Solo Artist trophy triumphantly. It s such an honour to be here. to be back on the stage. Last time I was up here accepting this award in 2018 I said that I wanted to see more women on these stages, and I feel so proud that three years later we re seeing that happen.