I think that the minister describing the AFPRB as "independent" is stretching credibility somewhat....
It will be interesting to see if any members of AFPRB resign on principle. I believe in their last report they said they were "disappointed" at being told what to recommend (0%) for two years, and looked forward to returning to business as usual. However, they have now been told what to recommend for 4 years in a row, 2 years of 0% and two years of 1% or less. One has to question what is the point of the AFRPB (yes, I know they also look at allowances, charges, specialist pay, etc).
Having said that, even in the "good" old years you will find in the first paragraph of an AFPRB report the statement of the remit they have been given, which includes the government inflation target, and how much MOD can afford. Hence they are effectively told the maximum they can recommend (they only recommend, the government awards) from the start, hence they are never truly independent.
But will any of them resign - somehow I doubt it!
