The Daily Telegraph froths at the mouth again today, quite rightly for once, in my opinion, at George Osborne’s decision to stop automatic incremental pay rises in the armed forces. And why? To save money, of course; £1.5 billion of it, to be specific. The Chancer of the Exchequer is, effectively, trying to stop our armed service personnel reaching their pay maxima, in other words, the rate for the job. Nice, George.
This will put the armed forces on the same footing as most other public sector workers who have borne much of the brunt of public spending cuts in recent years and it’s a clear case of this odious government deciding that two wrongs, and more, equal a right. This is all about ideology.
It’s ironic (no it isn’t: the Telegraph knows exactly what it is doing) that the information about armed forces pay should emerge when we are commemorating the war dead and acknowledging gratefully the debt our nation owes those who protect us. The government believes public bad, private good. I am just surprised that Cameron and co haven’t looked at selling off the MOD to G4S. Oh, they have?
I have some advice for our brave soldiers: if you want to be adequately rewarded for the work you do, why not resign your commissions and instead work for the MOD as a bean counter and pen pusher? These are the real heroes in the eyes of the Tories, as they recruit a vast army of additional administrators like they are going out of style. Hundreds of civil servants from other government departments have leapt aboard the MOD gravy train for better pay, improved conditions and a fast-track promotion system. The only government department to dramatically increase spending whilst massive cuts are made everywhere else – why carry on with minor duties like serving the country when you can double your money (and more, far more) by sitting in an office all day?
It is a matter of fact that whilst the frontline in MOD is being pared back, back office is expanding to take its place. You might not like it, you may not even have known about it, but if you want a nice, secure job, with excellent career development opportunities, then hang up your rifle and buy a new pen; forget the danger of IEDs, get a new desk.
There is no depth low enough that Osborne will not plumb. Stopping soldiers reach the rate for the job is but a new one.
