Farage Taps Defense Spokesperson, Targets 'Wokery' at War Museum

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, plans to appoint his first defense spokesman this week as part of an effort to revitalize the party's poll ratings. The move coincides with a pledge to eliminate what he terms 'wokery' from institutions like the Imperial War Museum (IWM).

Farage, who reportedly enjoys touring World War I battlefields in his leisure time, is scheduled to name his new defense spokesperson on Thursday. This initiative comes amid broader concerns regarding the government's funding levels for the armed forces, a sentiment echoed by a senior Labour figure who described recent budget promises as 'lamentably delayed.'

Despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham denying intentions to call a snap general election, Farage anticipates an announcement at any time and views the state of the Armed Forces as a significant campaign issue. Reform UK's poll numbers have seen a decline in recent months, influenced by various challenges, including questions surrounding the party's financing by cryptocurrency billionaires.

A particular point of contention for Farage is the Imperial War Museum's decision to cease displaying Lord Ashcroft's collection of Victoria and George Crosses. Under a potential Reform government, Farage has stated that the leadership of the IWM and similar publicly funded military heritage sites would be replaced if deemed 'woke.' The museum's board of trustees is appointed by the Prime Minister and relevant government departments.

Lord Ashcroft previously suggested the IWM should be renamed the 'Imperial Woke Museum,' asserting it had fallen under the sway of a 'woke culture' detached from the interests of the Armed Forces. Ashcroft had intended to bequeath his medal collection, valued at £70 million, to the IWM but has since relocated it to the National Army Museum after IWM trustees indicated in 2024 that they would not display the medals. The exhibition concluded in 2025.

Earlier in the year, a retired soldier recounted an interaction at the IWM gift shop where a staff member reportedly stated, 'We have nothing to do with the military – that's not who we are,' when his daughter inquired about a veterans' discount. The museum expressed regret for the visitor's experience and apologized if the family felt unwelcome.

Farage commented on these developments, stating, 'They just get worse. Our past is not shameful.' A Reform UK spokesperson elaborated that the IWM's decision regarding the Lord Ashcroft Gallery demonstrated 'disdain for gallantry' and raised questions about its approach to national history and support for military veterans. The spokesperson added that Reform, if in power, would replace the leadership of the IWM and other 'woke' military heritage sites, introducing statutory obligations and duties through legislative and Royal Charter amendments to ensure 'due respect is paid to the heritage of our Armed Forces.'

Caro Howell, the IWM's director general since 2023, has focused on developing the museum's reputation for reaching new audiences through 'bold, inclusive and global storytelling.' In 2024, the IWM reportedly spent over £100,000 on diversity consultants to aid in 'embedding diversity' within its exhibits. The museum also issued an apology in 2021 following a two-minute rap performance at a remembrance event that included claims about Winston Churchill's role in the 1943 Bengal famine.