Armed Forces face an ‘unacceptable’ delay to pay rises

SOLDIERS, sailors and airmen face a “completely unacceptable” delay to next year’s pay rise it has been claimed.

Members of the Armed Forces had been due to find out in April if their long-standing 1 per cent pay rise cap was finally to be lifted by the Government. However, defence sources now expect a delay, with any rise not expected in pay packets until June.

Any pay rise for Ministry of Defence civil servants due in August is not expected to be delayed.

Labour called the delay an “insult”, while a former head of the Navy said it sent a “very bad message”. Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, has blamed it on the Budget being held in November rather than March.

Details of the delay emerged with reports the Prime Minister had to intervene to stop a heated row between Mr Williamson and the Chancellor, who have clashed over the Treasury’s insistence defence makes deep savings.

Theresa May reportedly told the pair to “grow up and calm down” after a “toe-to-toe” clash in the Commons where Mr Williamson accused Philip Hammond of publicly insulting him.

A letter from Mr Williamson to the pay body advising on whether troops need more money last week noted “the inconvenience of the changed timeline and implications for a deferred announcement of the award after April 1”.

The Treasury said any reports of delays were “speculation”, but defence sources told The Daily Telegraph the Services had been told to expect a wait of two months. Any pay increase will then be backdated.

Lord West, former First Sea Lord, said: “This is a very bad message to send. It seems to me like a cock-up and it needs to be resolved as soon as possible. We don’t pay our junior servicemen enough any way and the fact that the 1 per cent is going to be late makes it even worse.”

Nia Griffith, the shadow defence secretary, said: “Our Armed Forces are facing a crisis in recruitment and retention with personnel choosing to leave because of poor pay and a lack of support from government. It is completely unacceptable that servicemen and women will now have to wait even longer to hear about this year’s pay award. Instead of spending his time having stand up rows with the Chancellor, it is time for the Defence Secretary to get to grips with his brief.”

Members of the military last year told the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body they face the “perfect storm” of below-inflation pay rises, rising taxes and increased rents. The most recent internal survey on satisfaction with pay and conditions found only a third were satisfied with their salary, down from half in 2010.

Kevan Jones, former shadow defence minister said: “In real terms, our Forces have had years of pay cuts so delaying the rise is yet another insult.”

A Treasury spokesman said: “All public sector staff covered by a pay review body will receive next year’s increase in full and backdated.”

An MOD spokesman said: “Civil Servants in the Ministry of Defence will receive a pay rise following publication of the Treasury guidance. We aim to deliver this pay rise from Aug 1.”