UK Government not helping Forces families with cost of living, says Labour

Shadow defence secretary John Healey hit out while campaigning in Scotland.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey hit out at the UK Government, claiming ministers are ‘failing’ the armed forces during the cost of living crisis (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Forces families are “falling behind” because the UK Government is doing “too little to help” with the cost of living crisis, Labour has claimed.

Shadow defence secretary, John Healey, hit out at the situation as he met veterans during a visit to Scotland.

Speaking as he campaigned in Dunfermline, Fife, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Healey said those serving in the armed forces had seen their pay fall over the last 10 years, insisting: “Ministers are failing Armed Forces families.

“Everyone’s bills are going up and the UK Government is doing too little to help, so forces families are falling behind.

“The Office for Budget Responsibility has said that we are set to see the biggest drop to household incomes on record this year.

“Unfortunately, Forces families across the country will be faced with tough financial decisions.”

Mr Healey continued: “Despite this, ministers plan a real-terms cut in day-to-day Ministry of Defence spending over the next three years. This means less money for forces recruitment, training, pay and families.

“No other Whitehall department has a real cut in revenue spending, and the Defence Secretary should never have agreed to it.”

His comments came as Mr Sarwar said that the local elections on May 5 would be focused on the cost of living crisis.

“Every single Scot is living through the cost of living crisis and yet neither of Scotland’s Governments are doing anywhere near enough to help, Mr Sarwar said.

“The reality is that, after 15 years in power, all the SNP are willing to do is give families a pathetic £4 a week. Meanwhile, the Tories are putting up taxes in Westminster.

“Scottish Labour are the only party with a proper plan to tackle the cost of living, by rolling out a one-off windfall tax on gas companies and reducing the costs of everyday living. Scotland needs action and it needs it now.”