Soldiers risk life yet earn less than traffic wardens

• Treasury says there is no money for a salary increase for service personnel
• BAFF speaks out in support of top general's comments
• Soldiers risk life yet earn less than a traffic warden
• Soldiers need loans to eat

Treasury says there is no money for a salary increase for service personnel

CGS was putting down a marker for future years

(The Times, 6 June) The Treasury rebuffed the head of the Army yesterday after his unprecedented public cry for higher wages for all Service personnel. It said that there was no extra money in the coffers.

General Sir Richard Dannatt gave voice to frustrations in the Forces by comparing military pay levels unfavourably with what a traffic warden earns. Gordon Brown, sensitive to unrest in the ranks, responded swiftly to say that he recognised the contribution of the Armed Services. But the Treasury said that there was no question of more money in the short term because the Ministry of Defence's budget was fixed for three years.

It was clear, however, that General Dannatt, the Chief of the General Staff, was trying to put down a marker for future years. He believes that for what the military have to do — fight in Afghanistan and Iraq and be separated from their families for long periods — his soldiers and members of the other Services deserve better.

Full story at Timesonline. By Michael Evans, Defence Editor

BAFF speaks out in support of top general's comments

The British Armed Forces Federation fielded two spokespeople during the day (5 June) for Sky News, BBC News Channel (formerly News 24), Radio 5 Live, and several BBC regional and local radio stations, as well as print media. See below - "Soldiers risk life yet earn less than a traffic warden".

In response to General Dannatt's comments, the Prime Minister has said that "We will do everything in our power in the years to come to recognise the great individual contribution that is made by all the members of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force."

BBC News

Telegraph.co.uk

update 17 June - BAFF's Adrian Weale discussed forces pay on Sky News, as part of a live linkup with service families in Colchester.

Soldiers risk life yet earn less
than a traffic warden

(The Sun, 5 June) The head of the Army last night called for soldiers to get a wage rise – saying even traffic wardens earn more.

General Sir Richard Dannatt said pay for his men and women was the most important Army issue that needed to be tackled.

The Chief of the General Staff insisted more cash must be ploughed into the Armed Forces for the UK to win the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq – where troops risk their lives every day. And he demanded that more should be spent on soldiers’ welfare and accommodation, some of which he described as “appalling”.

Full story at The Sun website. By Tom Newton Dunn. See also "Soldiers need loans to eat", below.

Soldiers need loans to eat

Angry reaction by BAFF Chairman

(Independent on Sunday, 11 May)

A highly sensitive internal report into the state of the British Army has revealed that many soldiers are living in poverty. Some are so poor that they are unable to eat and are forced to rely on emergency food voucher schemes set up by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Some of Britain's most senior military figures reacted angrily yesterday to the revelations in the report, criticising the Government's treatment of its fighting forces.

...There is a growing dissent being expressed on military websites. Pay remains a major issue for both soldiers and officers. One describes the pay as "appalling, disgusting and pathetic".

Douglas Young of the British Armed Forces Federation said: "People are leaving the armed forces for financial reasons. There's no question about that." Independent on Sunday