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| Pay armed forces more, Clegg says | Pay armed forces more, Clegg says |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The junior ranks of the armed forces should get an immediate £6,000 pay rise to help boost morale, the Lib Dems say. | The junior ranks of the armed forces should get an immediate £6,000 pay rise to help boost morale, the Lib Dems say. |
| It was "shameful" that many privates on their first tour of duty earned less than police constables and junior firefighters, leader Nick Clegg said. | It was "shameful" that many privates on their first tour of duty earned less than police constables and junior firefighters, leader Nick Clegg said. |
| He said the move, costing about £300m, could be part funded by cutting 10,000 "desk" jobs at the Ministry of Defence. | He said the move, costing about £300m, could be part funded by cutting 10,000 "desk" jobs at the Ministry of Defence. |
| Ministers said pay deals for the armed forces had been among the best in the public sector in the past three years. | Ministers said pay deals for the armed forces had been among the best in the public sector in the past three years. |
| All military personnel were awarded a 2.8% pay rise earlier this year after the government accepted the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. | All military personnel were awarded a 2.8% pay rise earlier this year after the government accepted the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. |
| As a result, the basic pay of a private on operations rose to between £16,681 and £25,887. | As a result, the basic pay of a private on operations rose to between £16,681 and £25,887. |
| 'Dissatisfaction' | 'Dissatisfaction' |
| But opposition parties have continued to press for higher pay and better accommodation to reflect the armed forces continuous involvement in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003. | But opposition parties have continued to press for higher pay and better accommodation to reflect the armed forces continuous involvement in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003. |
| The Lib Dems said there was "widespread dissatisfaction" about pay levels among the lowest ranks at a time when young men and women were being asked daily to put their lives on the line. | The Lib Dems said there was "widespread dissatisfaction" about pay levels among the lowest ranks at a time when young men and women were being asked daily to put their lives on the line. |
| We can't continue to reward the bravery of lions with peanuts Nick Clegg, Lib Dem leader | We can't continue to reward the bravery of lions with peanuts Nick Clegg, Lib Dem leader |
| They are proposing a £6,000 increase in basic pay for entry-level privates in the Army and their equivalents in the other services. | They are proposing a £6,000 increase in basic pay for entry-level privates in the Army and their equivalents in the other services. |
| This, they claim, would lift the annual salary of the lowest-paid privates from £16,681 to £22,680. | This, they claim, would lift the annual salary of the lowest-paid privates from £16,681 to £22,680. |
| They are also calling for longer-serving privates and lance corporals to get a £3,000 rise, which would take their average annual pay up to about £25,000. | They are also calling for longer-serving privates and lance corporals to get a £3,000 rise, which would take their average annual pay up to about £25,000. |
| Corporals, sergeants and higher NCO ranks should get a £1,000 increase, equivalent to an extra £20 a week. | |
| Mr Clegg said poor pay levels were having a "dreadful impact" on morale in the armed forces. | Mr Clegg said poor pay levels were having a "dreadful impact" on morale in the armed forces. |
| Job savings | Job savings |
| "Nobody can put a price on the sacrifices our troops make on our behalf but it is clear to everyone that pay levels are shamefully low for the lower ranks," he said. | "Nobody can put a price on the sacrifices our troops make on our behalf but it is clear to everyone that pay levels are shamefully low for the lower ranks," he said. |
| "We can't continue to reward the bravery of lions with peanuts. The Liberal Democrats will ensure that no soldier, sailor or airman goes into harm's way on less basic pay than a new recruit to the police or fire service." | "We can't continue to reward the bravery of lions with peanuts. The Liberal Democrats will ensure that no soldier, sailor or airman goes into harm's way on less basic pay than a new recruit to the police or fire service." |
| The salary increases can be paid for from within the Ministry of Defence's existing budget, the party argues. | The salary increases can be paid for from within the Ministry of Defence's existing budget, the party argues. |
| The estimated £300m required to fund the move should come from savings at the MoD, primarily from job cuts. | The estimated £300m required to fund the move should come from savings at the MoD, primarily from job cuts. |
| The Lib Dems said it was "ridiculous" that the MoD employed two "desk-based" employees for every one serving member of personnel and the department could make do with 10,000 fewer civilian employees it deems "non-essential". | The Lib Dems said it was "ridiculous" that the MoD employed two "desk-based" employees for every one serving member of personnel and the department could make do with 10,000 fewer civilian employees it deems "non-essential". |