Defence Secretary John Healey has announced major changes to reservist rules, making it easier to call up reservists in times of crisis. The changes, set to take effect from 2027, will lower the threshold for recall from 'national danger, great emergency or attack on the UK' to 'warlike preparations'.
The Ministry of Defence introduced the Armed Forces Bill to Parliament on Thursday, which includes measures to strengthen the UK's strategic reserve. Among the changes, the maximum age for reservists will increase from 55 to 65, allowing older reservists to be called up.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Mr Healey said: 'We are in a new era of threat - demands a new era of defence. This is part of new recommendations laid out in our Strategic Defence Review last year.' He added that the changes would allow better use of skills in cyber, medicine, training and translation.
Lieutenant General Paul Griffiths, commander of the Standing Joint Command, said: 'As the threat to our nation grows, we must ensure our armed forces can draw on the numbers and skills required to meet it. I fully support these measures.'
The Bill will also enshrine the new Defence Housing Service into law, backed by £9 billion announced in December. Mr Healey visited upgraded homes in Helensburgh, saying the service 'will raise the standards' to those expected in the private rental sector.
