Ministers have reversed a proposal to withdraw hourly compensation for volunteer coastguard officers following intense criticism of the plan.
The maritime minister announced the reversal in parliament on Thursday, a decision hailed as a major victory by coastguards who warned they would reduce their hours or leave the service if the cuts were implemented. The move has also raised questions about the position of Virginia McVea, head of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Coastguard officers campaigned across the UK and within government, securing what their representative described as a “richly deserved win.”
Nicola Savage, a national officer with the GMB union representing the coastguards, said: “It was a scandal that these brave, life‑saving workers would have their pay cut. Ministers have listened and done the right thing.”
Coastguard rescue officers (CROs) volunteer to join the service but receive hourly pay when on callout. The government’s plan to end this remuneration followed an appeal court ruling in January that CROs were workers, not pure volunteers, partly because of that pay.
Instead of recognising their worker status, the MCA intended to stop payments from September, aiming to reclassify CROs as volunteers under an expenses‑only model.
The proposal faced heavy opposition from CROs, their union, and several MPs. Both the maritime minister, Keir Mather, and the MCA’s chief executive were accused of misleading Parliament while defending the measure. An internal survey, leaked to The Guardian, indicated the MCA knew the plan risked losing many experienced officers.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Mather confirmed the plan was being abandoned. “We want to ensure that CROs are treated with dignity, with respect and they are empowered to carry out the incredible duties that they do,” he said. “Having listened to the views and testimonies of CROs first‑hand, I can confirm that the move to the expenses‑only volunteer model in September will not go ahead, and that current arrangements will remain in place.”
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Jerome Mayhew, the shadow transport minister, asked Mather whether he still had confidence in MCA chief executive McVea, noting that the leaked survey showed widespread opposition among CROs, while she had claimed the proposal had overwhelming support. Mather responded that ministers retain full confidence in the service, but that concerns raised on the ground and insufficient evidence warranted a pause and renewed engagement.