The Conservatives have vowed a tax-free pay boost for Army reservists to swell the volunteer force to 50,000, as Labour’s defence plan remains 10 months late.
Mark Francois takes aim at Labour’s defence plans (Image: Provided)
Britain’s Army reservists would be handed a tax-free pay boost under Conservative plans to swell the volunteer force to 50,000. The pledge, unveiled on Armed Forces Day, would make the first 30 days of reserve service each year completely free of tax.
Top Tories say it would drive up recruitment by more than 50% and reward the part-time soldiers who already juggle service with a full-time civilian job.
At present, reservists are taxed on their service at their highest rate – meaning many are clobbered by the taxman for giving up their evenings and weekends.
The party says the perk would put real money back in their pockets. A nurse serving as a Sergeant could gain an extra £640 a year, while a software engineer who is a Major could be £1,910 better off.
Leading Tories hope the move will also stop reservists quitting, with almost half who leave saying they simply do not feel valued by the service.
Only 46% currently complete their minimum training days, a figure the party wants to drive up to boost Britain’s war readiness in an increasingly dangerous world.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “The first duty of a government is to defend the country. Yet two weeks ago the Defence Secretary resigned saying that he was being forced to make decisions that would increase the risk to our troops and make the country less safe.”
She added: “We will give our reservists a tax cut, backing our military to keep our country safe and ensuring we can boost our reserve forces to 50,000. By contrast, Labour are dithering and Reform don’t even have a Defence Spokesman.”
The plan would be funded by restoring the two-child benefit cap, with the savings ploughed into defence, a policy the Tories say is fully costed.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said reservists should not be “clobbered by the taxman” for serving, vowing to back Britain’s “citizen soldiers”.
Kemi rolls out the big guns (Image: Provided)
Sir James Cleverly, himself a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve, said the move sent “a really powerful signal that we value those who serve”.
The announcement piles pressure on Labour over its handling of defence. The Government’s Defence Investment Plan, promised for autumn 2025, is now 10 months late and has been delayed at least five times.
In a damaging blow for the party, both the Defence Secretary and Armed Forces Minister quit Sir Keir Starmer‘s Government this month in protest at his refusal to fund the military properly.
Leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham has so far failed to commit to a change of course, leaving Britain’s Armed Forces facing further uncertainty.
Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois said: “The first duty of any Prime Minister is to keep our country safe. But right now, neither Keir Starmer nor Andy Burnham has a plan for how to do it.”
Labour and Reform have been approached for comment.