Reform UK's military credibility risks being squandered without a defence spokesman

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Sep 28, 2026 - 11:22

Reform UK's military credibility risks being squandered without a defence spokesman

With all the conflicts going on around the world which directly affect the UK’s national interests at home and abroad, plus the recent thwarted attempt to attack RAF Fairford by alleged Iranian agents, defence and security have become hot topics in British politics.

Which makes it all the stranger one of the UK’s major political parties, one tipped as possibly forming the next Westminster government, does not have an official defence spokesman.

Why is this the case? Well, we should note Reform UK does not have – to my knowledge – a standalone, dedicated defence white paper or separate defence document. Instead, it has stated its defence proposals within its 2024 general election manifesto titled "Our Contract With You" and on the party's official online policy platform.

There is little in its proposals that would frighten the horses. They have pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by the third year of a Reform UK government and to 3 per cent within six years, while recruiting 30,000 additional full-time military personnel. These additional personnel will not be the result of conscription or national service but, according to party leader Nigel Farage, will be recruited via the traditional volunteer basis long espoused by Britain’s armed services.

Reform UK has also advocated increasing the “size and capacity” of the armed forces and continuing with Britain’s leading role in Nato. Moreover, it has proposed tax incentives intended to increase British self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing and technology and has advocated changes to military procurement.

Official party messaging frames this as reversing decades of national decline. Reform UK's stated ambition is a Britain that is “a free, proud and independent sovereign nation”, with stronger domestic military production and greater freedom to determine its strategic priorities.

One could argue the party’s defence proposals are long on rhetoric and short on detail, but this is hardly unusual with opposition parties. Only when in power do they have the capacity and resources to produce comprehensive and costed proposals. And even then – as we have seen oftentimes before – many political parties struggle to square the circle between requirements and costs when they form the administration.

My point here, however, is Reform’ UKs defence proposals seem reasonable enough. So why no defence spokesman to promote them?

I suspect the answer may lie in the lack of a suitable individual to fill the post. It is always useful, although not absolutely vital, to have a defence spokesman who has some personal experience of things military. It adds a little credibility to the role, although it is no guarantee of political expertise. Just look at the ex-military people filling posts in the current Labour administration for evidence of that.

The obvious choice to me always was Chris Parry – a Reform UK member, retired Rear Admiral and combat veteran from the Falklands War. Ever an outspoken individual, he was selected as a candidate for Reform UK in the 2026 election for mayor of the Hampshire and the Solent Combined Authority. Unfortunately for him and his party, he was suspended as a candidate in March 2026 after some intemperate public comments and seems to now be in some political limbo.

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So, if not him, then who? I am afraid I don’t have the answer to that, as I lack an intimate knowledge of the personalities within Reform. However, all I would say is not having an official defence spokesman squanders the party’s credibility when discussing such matters.

The sooner Reform UK appoint one the better as far as the party's future aspirations are concerned.

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