The head of the UK coastguard agency, Virginia McVea, is facing increasing pressure to resign after it was revealed that she used unverified data to support her controversial proposal to strip rescue officers of their pay. McVea, the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), claimed that more than 90% of coastguard rescue officers (CROs) supported the pay cut, citing an official survey. However, an investigation by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has concluded that the poll did not adequately substantiate her claim.
Union Response
Nicola Savage, a national officer for the GMB union, which represents CROs, stated:
“"If Ms McVea is unable to produce the reports she refers to, we would consider this as a deliberate attempt to mislead. If this is the case, she should resign – as hundreds of coastguards have already asked her to do."
Joe Robertson, an MP advocating for CROs, accused McVea of misleading both MPs and coastguards during three separate meetings where she cited the disputed figure. He urged her to:
- Apologize for misleading MPs, CROs, and the public.
- Provide a written account of how she repeatedly presented this false information.
- Explain why she has not published the surveys promised to MPs during a meeting on June 24.
