Frontline forces ‘failed’ over cost of living: MP

DEFENCE chiefs have been accused of ‘failing’ to support British troops through the cost of living crisis.

Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan, Labour’s former shadow armed forces minister, grilled Conservative defence minister Leo Dochertyonwhatmoreisbeing done to improve pay among the nation’s troops.

Mr Docherty said armed forces personnel ‘like everyone else, are not immune to the international inflationarypressuresandcostof living pressures’. But the veterans minister insisted the government was supporting the nation’s troops, with defence secretary Ben Wallace having this week unveiled plans to freeze the daily food chargefortroops,limitingincreases to accommodations charges to one per cent and increasing the availability of free childcare. Speaking in

Parliament,MrMorgansaid: ‘The government are failing our frontline forces during a cost of living crisis.

‘According to data from the minister’s own department, the percentage of personnelwhobelievethattheir pay and benefits are fair has fallenforthefirsttimeinfour years, with four in 10 servicemen and servicewomen unhappy with their pay and benefits. What success has the minister had with the chancellor in securing the pay rise our troops need and deserve?’ Responding, Mr Docherty said military personnel were ‘content with their pay and conditions’.

‘They are also content because of the remarkable job security they have in the armed forces, the subsidised accommodation, and the remarkable and unique non-contributory pension,’ he added.