By Sarah Garrod.
Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called for an immediate pay rise for British troops.
The Lib Dems have called for an immediate pay rise for lower ranked troops, to bring their pay in line with the hourly-rate of trainee and development level firefighters, as well as new-entrant police constables.
Mr Clegg said: 'Nobody can put a price on the sacrifices made by our armed forces, but recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have revealed the disparity between what we expect of our soldiers and how they are rewarded.
'There is widespread dissatisfaction over pay among the lower ranks. This has a dreadful impact on morale and retention. We will find the money to pay for this from inside the MoD. It's ridiculous that we have two civilians for every man or woman in uniform, and almost 1,000 people working in communications alone.
'Major reform is necessary to reduce costs within the department. Those savings should go to where they are really necessary, to the people prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.'
The Lib Dems said a pay rise of £6,000 would help to boost troops morale. Mr Clegg said the move, which would cost £300 million, could be funded from within the department by cutting 'desk' jobs.
All British military personnel were given a 2.8 per cent pay rise this year after the government accepted recommendation of the armed forces pay review body (AFPRB).
But the lib Lib Dems have said there is dissatisfaction about pay, with around 40 per cent of lower ranked troops and 60 per cent of marines unhappy with pay.
Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called for an immediate pay rise for British troops.
The Lib Dems have called for an immediate pay rise for lower ranked troops, to bring their pay in line with the hourly-rate of trainee and development level firefighters, as well as new-entrant police constables.
Mr Clegg said: 'Nobody can put a price on the sacrifices made by our armed forces, but recent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have revealed the disparity between what we expect of our soldiers and how they are rewarded.
'There is widespread dissatisfaction over pay among the lower ranks. This has a dreadful impact on morale and retention. We will find the money to pay for this from inside the MoD. It's ridiculous that we have two civilians for every man or woman in uniform, and almost 1,000 people working in communications alone.
'Major reform is necessary to reduce costs within the department. Those savings should go to where they are really necessary, to the people prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.'
The Lib Dems said a pay rise of £6,000 would help to boost troops morale. Mr Clegg said the move, which would cost £300 million, could be funded from within the department by cutting 'desk' jobs.
All British military personnel were given a 2.8 per cent pay rise this year after the government accepted recommendation of the armed forces pay review body (AFPRB).
But the lib Lib Dems have said there is dissatisfaction about pay, with around 40 per cent of lower ranked troops and 60 per cent of marines unhappy with pay.
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