Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has announced plans to rebrand the Army Reserve as the Territorial Army if his party comes to power. The party said it will reintroduce the “distinctly British” name that was used until 2014, when it was changed to Army Reserve by the Conservatives as part of modernisation efforts.
Reform UK's Push for a Heritage Name
Reform argues that the Army Reserve name is generic and failed to bolster recruitment. A Reform spokesman 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 do 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.”
Recruitment Figures and Reserve Roles
Around 23,500 people are part of the Army Reserve, according to the latest official figures from July. Army reservists are used to reinforce the regular Army, supporting full-time troops in a range of roles. They balance their day-to-day civilian lives with part-time military duties and are required to train at least 19 or 27 days a year. Reservists get paid for the time they spend training and receive 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.
Defence Spokesperson Announcement
The announcement comes amid reports that Reform will unveil their first defence spokesperson on Thursday, rumoured to be a former member of the military. The party has faced criticism for not having a dedicated defence 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.
Labour this week announced plans to spend 3% of national income on defence by 2030, following sustained pressure from political opponents and former senior military officers for funding to be boosted.
