Our troops are not getting a fair deal. That is why the Liberal Democrats want to increase the basic pay of our troops by £6000.

Everyday in Afghanistan we ask our servicemen and women to put themselves in great danger as they face the Taliban.

Yet, time and again stories about poor housing, equipment shortages and lack of support for ex-soldiers appear in the news.

George Lyon MEP commented: "If we are asking our troops to risk their lives in the face of extraordinary danger, they must be equipped properly, housed well, and paid fairly."

The Liberal Democrats have launched a UK wide campaign to increase the pay of our troops so that no soldier, sailor or airman goes into harm's way on less basic pay than a new recruit to the police or fire service.

The Liberal Democrat proposals include:

• The lowest paid personnel would receive an increase of £6000 - placing them on £22,680 and on an equal footing with a development-level firefighter or new-entrant police constable

• Privates and lance corporals would receive an average annual pay increase of over £3000, with the average annual basic pay across these two ranks rising to around £25,000

• Higher NCO ranks would receive an average annual pay increase of around £1,000

• A doubling in the number of forces' family homes refurbished each year

• Savings to be made in fighter jet procurement and operational costs and invested in providing helicopters for Afghanistan

George Lyon added; "These proposals would radically improve the pay and conditions of our brave service men and women. It is time that the Government acted.

"I urge everyone to sign up to the Liberal Democrat petition to press for action for our troops."

Sign the petition here

Find out more about the Liberal Democrat proposals here