SNP sets out early blueprint for independent Army
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has released a paper outlining proposed changes to the pay levels and living conditions of British armed forces personnel, and specifically the Scottish units and regiments of the army.
The paper is mostly concerned with bread and butter issues, notably recruitment and retention, pay, housing and veterans’ welfare.
However, the SNP claims the paper could act as a “cornerstone” for an independent Scottish army once the country breaks away from the UK.
The paper – whose publication coincides with Armed Forces Day – demands regular reviews of pay and conditions for new recruits with a view to raising their salaries to the same level as their counterparts in the police and fire services.
Furthermore, the paper proposes raising the recruitment age from 16 to 18 so as to minimize the scope for abuse and exploitation in the armed forces.
Commenting on the proposals, SNP defense spokesman, Stewart McDonald, claimed all the suggestions in the report are “eminently sensible and achievable now” and urged London to adopt them.
"For far too long, successive UK governments have failed our armed forces - with personnel expected to make enormous personal sacrifices in exchange for some of the worst pay and conditions offered by any European or Nato ally", McDonald said.
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