Fair Pay for our Armed Forces - Eileen Baxendale (North Tayside Liberal Democrats)

North Tayside Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Fair Pay for our Armed Forces - Eileen Baxendale

September 8, 2009 12:47 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat candidate for Glasgow North East Eileen Baxendale has condemned the "shameful" levels of pay given to our armed forces and has called for immediate action to restore the military covenant between the Armed Forces and the people.

Under proposals announced this week by the Liberal Democrats, the most junior ranks of the armed forces would receive a £6,000 pay rise to boost morale. Other privates and lance corporals would get an average salary increase of at least £3,000, with an extra £1,000 for higher non-commissioned officer ranks.

The move would cost between £300 and £400 million and should be funded from existing the Ministry of Defence budget by slashing the number of "desk jobs" by 10,000.

Commenting Eileen Baxendale said:

"Nobody can put a price on the sacrifices our troops make on our behalf, but it is clear to everyone that pay levels are shamefully low for the lower ranks.

"At the current time there is one MoD desk job for every two servicemen. This needs to be addressed, we believe the ratio should be reduced, particularly as so many desk jobs in MoD are already done by serving officers.

"We can't continue to reward the bravery of lions with peanuts. The Liberal Democrats will ensure that no soldier, sailor or airman goes into harm's way on less basic pay than a new recruit to the police or fire service, which is only right."

Notes:

· The lowest paid personnel would receive an increase of £6000 - placing them on £22,680 and an equal footing with a development-level firefighter or new-entrant police constable.

· Privates and lance corporals would receive an average annual pay increase of over £3000, with the average annual basic pay across these two ranks rising to around £25,000.

· Higher NCO ranks would receive an average annual pay increase of around £1,000.

· Policy cost: Around £300-400million or 1% of the MOD's total budget.

· At the moment there is 1 desk job for every 2 servicemen. We believe the ratio should be reduced, particularly as so many desk-jobs in MOD are already done by serving officers. The Defence budget and Department itself are in such chaos that there the next Strategic Defence Review will have to make tough choices. Now is the opportunity to ensure that pay levels are not compromised or salami-sliced further.