Boss urged to resign in row about pay cut for rescuers

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 12, 2026

Virginia McVea, head of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, is facing calls to resign after an investigation found no proof that most rescue officers backed proposed pay cuts. This controversy underscores ongoing conflicts over compensation for coastguard officers and has led to a government pause on the planned changes amid concerns about workforce impact.

The head of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is under pressure to resign following an investigation that found no evidence supporting her claims that the majority of rescue officers backed plans to cut their pay. Virginia McVea had asserted to Members of Parliament and agency staff earlier this year that over 90 percent of coastguard rescue officers supported a proposal to end their £11 hourly payments for attending call-outs and training sessions.

The controversy stems from a Court of Appeal ruling in January, which determined that the 3,500 rescue officers, previously classified as volunteers, qualify as paid emergency workers during call-outs. This ruling granted them employment rights, leading the government to reconsider how rescue officers should be compensated. In response, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency proposed removing the hourly payments, a move that sparked significant backlash. An internal survey, later leaked, indicated that up to half of the officers might quit or reduce their on-call availability if the payments were withdrawn.

As a result of the widespread opposition, the government paused the implementation of the pay changes in July, despite an initial plan to introduce them the following month. Ed Humpherson, director general of the Office for Statistics Regulation, conducted an inquiry into McVea’s claims about the officers’ support. In letters addressed to McVea in July and last week, Humpherson stated that no evidence was found to substantiate the assertion that most rescue officers supported the pay cuts. He urged the agency to publish the relevant statistics and surveys to maintain transparency and recommended acknowledging the absence of supporting data.

Nicola Savage, a national officer for the GMB union, which represents rescue officers, called on McVea to step down if she cannot provide the reports she referenced. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions regarding compensation and recognition of rescue officers' status within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, underscoring challenges faced in balancing budgetary constraints with the operational requirements of emergency services.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.