Following the expose that the government was planning on cutting pay to RNLI volunteers the government has U-turned.
The government has now been forced into a humiliating U-turn after abandoning plans to remove hourly payments from volunteer coastguard rescue officers following a furious backlash from frontline workers, unions and MPs.
The reversal was announced in Parliament by maritime minister Keir Mather, who confirmed that the proposed move to an expenses-only model from September would no longer go ahead. The decision was welcomed by coastguards who had warned that the changes could force experienced officers to reduce their commitment or leave the service altogether.
The campaign was described by union representatives as a major victory for the men and women who provide a vital emergency service along Britain’s coastline.
Nicola Savage, national officer for GMB, said: “It was a scandal that these brave, life-saving workers would have their pay cut. But ministers have listened and done the right thing.”
Coastguard rescue officers (CROs) are volunteers who give their time to protect lives at sea and on the coast, but they receive hourly payments when responding to callouts. The government’s controversial proposal followed a Court of Appeal ruling in January which found that CROs had been operating as workers rather than purely volunteers, partly because of the payments they received.
Instead of formally recognising their employment status, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) proposed removing the payments altogether, allowing CROs to be legally classified as volunteers.
The decision triggered widespread anger among coastguards, their union and politicians. Critics accused the MCA of attempting to avoid its responsibilities rather than address the legal implications of the court ruling.
The controversy intensified after an internal MCA survey, revealed by The Guardian, suggested that many serving officers opposed the plans and warned they could lose a significant number of experienced personnel.
Speaking in the Commons, Mather acknowledged the strength of feeling among coastguards and confirmed the existing arrangements would remain.
He said: “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.”
The announcement has also raised questions about the future of MCA chief executive Virginia McVea. Opposition MPs challenged Mather over whether he still had confidence in her leadership after claims that MPs had been given misleading information about the level of support for the proposed changes.
Shadow transport minister Jerome Mayhew highlighted the leaked survey showing strong opposition among coastguards and questioned why McVea had suggested the plans enjoyed widespread backing.
Mather stopped short of giving direct backing to McVea, saying only that the MCA and HM Coastguard carried out “vital work” and that ministers had confidence in the service.
The climbdown represents a significant victory for coastguard officers who took their campaign “across the UK and into the corridors of power”. It also serves as a reminder that attempts to weaken conditions for frontline emergency workers can face fierce resistance when those workers have public support behind them.
For Britain’s coastguards, the message is clear: their dedication and sacrifice cannot be taken for granted.
