A better deal for our troops

9.23.00am GMT Sat 14th Nov 2009

Liberal Democrats in Birmingham are backing a campaign for a better deal for our troops. Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg has pledged that the Liberal Democrats would raise the pay of the lowest paid soldiers by as much as £6,000. At the moment, many soldiers are paid less than new police officers and firefighters.

Selly Oak Councillor Dave Radcliffe said: "Our soldiers deserve a better deal. Many put their lives on the line, but struggle to make ends meet - that's just not right. You cannot put a price on the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces, but you can give them a better deal - it's time we did."

You can back the campaign by going to www.NickClegg.com/ArmedForcesPay

The Problem:

Over 51,000 (Over a Quarter of the Armed Forces) receive less in basic pay than a new recruit police constable or fire-fighter. The basic pay for the lowest paid Private is £16,681. 13,000 lower-ranks personnel receive under £17,000 a year basic pay. Even with operational allowances, they receive less than a new recruit to the police force. 46.2 hours per week during 2007-2008 - average hours worked by Junior Ranks according to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. £6.74 is the average hourly pay of a Private. There is an operational Allowance of £2,380 and Separation Allowance of £1,100 paid to all personnel on operations and no opportunities for overtime pay

What Our Troops Say:

There is dissatisfaction with basic pay among the lower ranks, almost half unhappy with their pay (around 40%). 60% of lower ranks in the Marines are dissatisfied with their pay, compared with only 20% of all Officers dissatisfied.

Our Solution:

Our proposals would bring the pay of the lower ranks in line with the hourly-rate of trainee and development-level Fire-fighters, as well as new-entrant police constables. Under our proposals no service personnel would receive less basic annual pay than a new-entrant police constable or development-level fire-fighter.

A fully-trained Private would receive:

• An average basic hourly wage of £9.44 from current £6.74 per hour (£430 per week, an extra £115 a week)

• The average pay across the ranks of Private and Lance Corporal would rise to around £25,000

• An average basic hourly wage of £10.40 an hour from current £8.80 per hour amounting to £480 per week an extra £73 a week

• Other Non-Commissioned Officers would receive pay rises of £20-30 per week (around £1000 per year depending on rank)

Related Link:

Back the campaign at NickClegg.com/ArmedForcesPay.