‘Hammond, pay troops £7bn more’
TORY Chancellor Philip Hammond is under pressure to give tens of thousands of troops a decent pay rise after an independent review of the armed forces’ salaries.
Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood has called for £7billion more in funding to raise wages above inflation.
He suggested the country would have to spend “north of 2.5%” of gross domestic product to pay for salaries, new jets and warships. The current budget target is 2%.
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It follows reports the independent body had recommended an increase of between 2% and 5%.
The Government said in September it was lifting the 1% pay cap on public sector jobs, in place since 2010.
Mr Hammond has the final say on accepting the panel’s advice and the Ministry of Defence has said there will be an announcement.
Mr Ellwood, an ex-Army captain, said that while people do not join the forces for the money, pay must not be a reason “as to why they would be deterred from it”.
He added: “There needs to be a pay rise.”
He has said the military should receive funding on a par with the NHS, given 9.8% of GDP in 2016.