Military have done 'really well' with pay increase, Armed Forces Minister says
Armed Forces Minister James Heappey has told Forces News the military has "secured one of the best" pay increases in Whitehall.
On Thursday, the Government announced that all personnel, up to and including 1-star rank, will receive a 5% pay rise plus a further consolidated increase of £1,000 – a permanent extra amount added to their basic salary.
Mr Heappey said that "in a time when public sector pay restraint is necessary to make sure that we are not adding to inflationary pressures, the Armed Forces have done really well," and that "what was recommended by the pay review body has been accepted".
When pressed on the lower band 5% increase compared with other seemingly higher public sector pay increases, Mr Heappey said: "No, I think that is if you misread what that 5% plus the £1,000 means."
The defence minister also stressed that the £1,000 "is consolidated, so part of the core paycheck and, therefore, counts towards pensions".
He went on to say: "The 5% plus the £1,000 means that for our most junior ranks, it's a 9.7% increase and, even for our most senior, it is a 5.5% increase."
In 2022, a private in the British Army, after training, had a basic income of £21,425 a year.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the latest increase in pay will mean starting salaries, after training, for its junior personnel will now increase to £23,496 per year.
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