Keir Mather

Keir Mather, the UK's maritime minister, is currently newsworthy due to accusations of misleading Members of Parliament concerning plans to cease hourly pay for volunteer coastguard officers. These plans faced significant criticism, with many volunteers threatening to reduce hours or leave the service. The government ultimately U-turned on this proposal following intense backlash. Mather, along with Virginia McVea, the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, was specifically accused of making false claims to MPs about the pay issue. The controversy highlights the importance of volunteer services and the government's decision-making process regarding their compensation. The reversal of the policy is seen as a major victory for the coastguards.