Pay for Army privates scandalous

Commenting on General Sir Richard Dannatt’s remarks on Army privates’ pay, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said:

"It is refreshing to hear the head of the Army being open about problems with soldiers’ pay while still in post.

"Considering the massive sacrifices that we ask them to make, there is no doubt that our Army privates are scandalously underpaid.

"Privates on the frontline in Iraq and Afghanistan are arguably paid less than the minimum wage on an hourly basis - a measure which the Government was careful to ensure did not apply to the Armed Forces.

"The Armed Forces pay review body must be given the chance to conduct a no strings attached review of the pay of privates, free from the usual constraints the Government imposes."