This is the press trying to make something out of nothing. Every time I deployed overseas I was reminded that all our extra pay was still to be confirmed and that it might have changed from one rotation to the next. If it did get reduced than any overpayment would be recovered.
This has been standard procedure for DND since the early 80's and has nothing to do with the government in power, unless one is looking to try and paint the Conservative badly.
The fact that McKay stepped in and halted the repayment is a dangerous precedent.
CKA Uber 
