Nigel Farage plans to rebrand the Army Reserve if Reform UK comes to power. His party said it will reintroduce the “distinctly British” Territorial Army name which had been used until 2014. It was changed to Army Reserve by the Conservatives as part of modernization efforts, but Reform argues the name is generic and failed to bolster recruitment. Around 23,500 people are part of the Army Reserve, latest official figures from July show. Army reservists are used to reinforce the regular Army, supporting full-time troops in a range of roles.
A Reform spokesperson confirmed plans to bring back the Territorial Army term, suggesting it could help lead to a rise in people signing up. They told The Sun: “There is no evidence that the name change boosted recruitment.
“What it did was disregard a name that had stood since 1908 and which clearly communicated its purpose. The name Territorial Army is distinctly British.
“It communicates our heritage, which soldiers sign up to defend.” It comes amid reports Reform will unveil their first defense spokesperson on Thursday, rumored to be a former member of the military.
The party has faced criticism for not having a dedicated defense champion as the issue becomes increasingly pressing amid rising tensions with Russia. Reform has fallen in the polls in recent weeks, having spent much of this parliament topping the table.
Labor this week announced plans to spend 3% of national income on defense by 2030. It followed sustained pressure from political opponents and former senior military officers for funding to be boosted.
Army reservists balance their day-to-day civilian lives with part-time military duties. They are required to train at least 19 or 27 days a year.
Reservists get paid for the time they spend training and a bonus payment for completing a certain amount of training days each year. The pay, which is based on what a regular soldier with the same role and rank would get, increases through promotions and experience.