Report Warns Of "Frustrated" Forces Personnel After Pay Rise

The armed forces have been handed a 1% wage rise amid warnings service personnel are growing "increasingly frustrated" with their pay policy.

Independent officials found those in the forces felt their pay has been "unfairly constrained" in the wake of rising costs and a wage recovery in the private sector.

The Armed Forces' Pay Review Body also warned of a "perfect storm" hitting those in the forces, warning morale is suffering and recruitment could be hit in the future.

Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith said:

"According to the report's authors, rent rises and changes to tax and benefits have created a 'perfect storm' that is putting real pressure on service personnel and their families.

"We have known for some time that Conservative cuts to our armed forces have had a crippling effect on morale but this report issues the stark warning that these pressures must be dealt with, otherwise there will be a widespread effect on recruitment and retention, which could in turn threaten operational effectiveness.

"It is clear from this report that personnel feel overlooked in favour of cost-cutting by the Ministry of Defence.

"Our armed forces and their families deserve the very best support, it's time for the government to treat them with the respect that they deserve."

The report by the pay review body approving the 1% rise laid bare the opposition to the current cap on pay.

It said: "On levels of pay generally, our visit programme made clear that service personnel are becoming increasingly frustrated with public-sector pay policy.

"They feel their pay is being unfairly constrained in a period when costs are rising, private-sector earnings are starting to recover and the high-tempo demands on the armed forces have not diminished."

The report adds:

"If the private sector continues to recover and if inflation continues its upward trajectory, we could foresee recruitment becoming more challenging and morale being adversely impacted.

"If there was clear evidence of this, we would need to consider very carefully whether a 1% average limit on base pay was compatible with continued operational effectiveness."

In response, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:

"A career in the Armed Forces provides rewarding experiences that aren’t available anywhere else.

"This pay increase was recommended by an independent body and we remain unwavering in our commitment to our people, providing pensions they don’t have to pay into, subsidised accommodation and, through our Covenant, businesses are offering fairer mortgage, broadband and mobile phone deals."