Reform has pledged to rule out prosecutions of British soldiers, barring only those with the explicit consent of the Defense Secretary, as the party unveiled its new armed forces spokesperson.
Angus MacIntyre, a former RAF Wing Commander, will take on the role. Reform states that within its first 100 days in office, it would pardon veterans convicted for carrying out orders, terminate ongoing prosecutions, and prevent further legal actions against British soldiers.
MacIntyre, who is himself a Northern Ireland veteran and served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia, said he could no longer tolerate service personnel feeling "undervalued, under-resourced and forgotten." He wrote in The Mail that Reform "will provide our veterans with the support they require." He added, "We see the utterly disgraceful treatment of our veterans who have found themselves prosecuted merely for doing their jobs. Ex-soldiers should not spend their retirement wondering whether the very country they swore to defend will stand by them. We will have their backs."
Reform is also proposing to cut the UK's welfare budget to increase defense spending, aiming for 3% of GDP by 2030 and 3.5% by 2035. These targets match pledges made by the Labour and Conservative parties.
However, the party's proposals faced scrutiny from some veterans. Paul Young, a former cavalryman and campaigner, expressed concern over the wording, suggesting a Supreme Court judge, rather than the Defense Secretary, should determine if cases proceed based on new evidence. Philip Ingram, a former army intelligence officer, also voiced skepticism about the legal feasibility of Reform's promises.