Nigel Farage will unveil his armed forces spokesperson on Thursday (Image: Getty)
Nigel Farage has appointed a former military officer as Reform UK’s defence spokesman. Senior RAF Regimented officer Angus MacIntyre helped Ukraine thwart Russian killers during Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion.
He has a military career spanning 40 years, having stood down as a commissioned Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force in order to take up the role with the party. Mr Farage said: “Having someone of Angus’ stature and calibre speak for us on defence shows how seriously Reform UK takes protecting the interests of Britain’s military.
“Angus has more experience than the entire government defence team combined. He is representative of our drive to bring into politics people with high-level and real-world experience – as opposed to career politicians – to run government departments.”
Mr MacIntyre has completed tours in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Iraq, and Somalia.
He has worked to support Ukraine since 2022 after the Russians launched their illegal invasion.
Serving as part of the NATO HQ in Brussels, he supported the UK Military Representative to NATO and was was awarded a commendation for his work in Kiev.
His appointment comes as Mr Farage accused Labour of “betraying” the armed forces and veterans by funding illegal migrants. Reform UK’s leader took aim at the ruling party while unveiling plans to offer extra support to service personnel buying a home.
He said: “Labour is betraying our armed forces and veterans. Whether it be failing to properly fund defence or veteran homelessness, they have chosen to fund illegal migrants instead of those who serve our country. Under a Reform government, a far greater proportion of armed forces personnel will be able to purchase their own home outright, helping to end the blight of veteran homelessness.”
His party will expand the existing Forces Help to Buy scheme for those serving in the armed forces, raising the cap on loans to 100% of a person’s yearly salary up to £50,000. The policy will cost up to £80million a year once established, the party said.
Armed forces personnel are currently eligible for a programme that offers interest-free loans of up to 50% up to a maximum of £25,000. Personnel typically pay this back over the course of 10 years from their post-tax income.
If the loan is over £10,000, HM Revenue and Customs considers it to be a “beneficial loan” and a taxable benefit-in-kind, meaning that they pay additional tax on the forgone interest that they otherwise would have paid on a commercial loan.
They also pay a small insurance surcharge each month to provide cover for the loan in the case of death-in-service or severe disability.
Reform UK said: “We would also end the punitive tax treatment that results in servicemen and women paying additional tax as a result of their taking out the loan, and remove the insurance surcharge, funding this directly from the government.”
Luke Pollard, Labour’s minister for defence readiness and industry, said: “The British people can’t afford national security to be treated as an afterthought. The fact it’s taken Reform nearly 2,000 days to appoint someone to focus on defence is an utter dereliction of duty by Nigel Farage.
“If Reform got into government, their Defenceless Plan would wave a white flag to our enemies and weaken our standing on the world stage – just when Labour has rebuilt our reputation.
“Farage’s ambivalence when it comes to the defence of the realm should come as no surprise. He’s spent years parroting Kremlin talking points, and his former leader in Wales is currently in prison for taking pro-Russian bribes.
“National security should be the first duty of any government or any party seeking to hold high office.”
Nigel Farage Accuses Labour of ‘Betraying’ Armed Forces While Unveiling Top Figure
Nigel Farage has launched a fierce attack on the Labour government, accusing it of betraying Britain’s armed forces and veterans while announcing a major appointment within Reform UK. The Reform UK leader has unveiled former senior Royal Air Force officer Angus MacIntyre as the party’s new armed forces spokesperson, marking an important development in its efforts to strengthen its defence policy and attract experienced military figures into politics.
The announcement comes amid growing political disagreements over Britain’s military capabilities, defence spending, veterans’ welfare and the government’s priorities for public expenditure. Farage claims that Labour has failed to provide sufficient support for serving military personnel and former members of the armed forces, while spending public money on other areas, including illegal migration.
Speaking about the appointment, Farage said that having someone with MacIntyre’s military experience demonstrated how seriously Reform UK takes national defence. He also argued that the new spokesperson had more relevant experience than the government’s entire defence team combined.
Angus MacIntyre: A New Figure in Reform UK’s Defence Team
Angus MacIntyre brings approximately 40 years of military experience to Reform UK. Before joining the party, he served as a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force and built an extensive career involving military operations, international security and strategic planning.
His military career began in the British Army in 1986. He subsequently served with different military units before transferring to the RAF Regiment in 1999.
During his career, MacIntyre participated in operational deployments in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Iraq and Somalia. He also worked with NATO headquarters in Brussels and contributed to international efforts supporting Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
His experience extended beyond military operations. He also worked in international security and strategic planning, including a period at the Pentagon in the United States.
MacIntyre decided to leave his military position after four decades of service to join Reform UK. He explained that he wanted to continue serving Britain by bringing his professional experience into politics.
He criticised successive Labour and Conservative governments for allowing Britain’s military capabilities to decline over several decades. According to him, the armed forces have experienced significant reductions in personnel, equipment and operational capacity.
Farage believes that recruiting experienced professionals from outside Westminster could help Reform UK develop more effective policies and prepare for future government responsibilities.
Farage Accuses Labour of Betraying Military Personnel
One of the central themes of Farage’s announcement was his criticism of Labour’s treatment of serving personnel and veterans.
He argued that the government had failed to provide sufficient financial support for defence and had not done enough to address veteran homelessness.
Farage stated that Labour was choosing to fund illegal migrants rather than adequately supporting those who had served their country.
His comments reflect Reform UK’s broader political argument that national security and military welfare should receive greater priority in government spending decisions.
The party believes that military personnel deserve stronger financial protection, better housing opportunities and improved support after leaving the armed forces.
However, Labour has rejected the suggestion that national defence is being neglected. Defence minister Luke Pollard criticised Reform for taking almost 2,000 days to appoint a dedicated defence spokesperson.
He also questioned the credibility of Reform’s defence policy, arguing that its initial government programme lacked sufficient detail about national security.
The disagreement demonstrates how defence policy has become an increasingly important area of political competition between Labour and Reform UK.
Reform UK’s Plan to Help Military Personnel Buy Homes
Alongside the appointment, Farage announced proposals to expand the existing Forces Help to Buy scheme.
Under the current arrangement, eligible serving military personnel can receive interest-free loans of up to £25,000, subject to a limit of 50 per cent of their annual salary. The scheme is designed to help service members purchase their first homes or move to suitable accommodation.
Reform UK wants to increase the maximum loan to 100 per cent of an individual’s annual salary, up to £50,000.
The party also proposes removing the additional tax burden associated with certain loans and eliminating the insurance surcharge currently paid by participating personnel.
According to Reform UK, the expanded scheme could cost up to £80 million annually once fully established.
The proposal is intended to make homeownership more accessible to members of the armed forces, particularly those who have difficulty obtaining mortgages because of frequent relocations and the nature of military employment.
Housing is a particularly important issue for military families. Service personnel may be required to move between different bases, making it difficult to establish long-term residential stability.
Reform argues that increasing financial assistance could help more military families purchase their own properties and reduce the risk of homelessness among former service members.
Defence Spending and Britain’s Military Future
Another important aspect of the announcement concerns the future funding of Britain’s armed forces.
Reform UK has promised to increase defence expenditure to 3.5 per cent of national GDP by 2035. The party argues that Britain needs stronger military capabilities to respond to growing international security threats.
The ongoing war in Ukraine, tensions involving Russia and increasing instability in different regions have highlighted the importance of maintaining effective armed forces.
Britain is a member of NATO and plays an important role in European and international security. Its military responsibilities include protecting national territory, supporting allied countries and maintaining the ability to respond to international crises.
However, maintaining modern armed forces requires substantial financial investment. Military equipment, personnel training, naval vessels, aircraft and technological development all involve considerable expenditure.
The government must therefore balance defence spending against other priorities, including healthcare, education, housing and social security.
MacIntyre has argued that Britain needs to reverse the long-term decline in its military capabilities and provide serving personnel with the equipment necessary to perform their duties safely and effectively.
His appointment suggests that Reform UK intends to make defence and veterans’ welfare more prominent elements of its political programme.
The Controversy Over Veterans and Military Prosecutions
MacIntyre has also indicated that Reform UK would take action on legal proceedings involving serving military personnel and veterans.
The party has promised to end ongoing and future prosecutions of armed forces personnel and veterans within the first 100 days of taking office, with further legal action requiring approval from the Defence Secretary.
This proposal particularly concerns former soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
The issue is highly sensitive because it involves balancing the rights of veterans with the need for accountability under the law.
Supporters of Reform’s position argue that former military personnel should not face prolonged legal uncertainty over decisions made during dangerous operational situations many years ago.
Critics, however, may question whether political approval should be required before legal proceedings involving military personnel can continue.
The debate raises important questions about justice, military service and the legal responsibilities of governments towards both veterans and victims of historical conflicts.
Conclusion
Nigel Farage’s appointment of Angus MacIntyre represents a significant development in Reform UK’s efforts to strengthen its defence credentials. With four decades of military experience, MacIntyre brings professional knowledge of military operations, international security and strategic planning to the party.
Farage has used the announcement to criticise Labour over defence spending, veterans’ welfare and its priorities for public expenditure. Meanwhile, Labour has questioned Reform UK’s previous lack of a dedicated defence spokesperson and challenged the detail of its military policies.
The proposed expansion of Forces Help to Buy, increased defence spending and changes to legal proceedings involving veterans demonstrate Reform UK’s intention to make military welfare a central political issue.
Ultimately, Britain’s armed forces require long-term investment, modern equipment, effective leadership and appropriate support for serving personnel and veterans. Whatever political party forms the government, ensuring that military personnel receive the resources and protection they need remains an important national responsibility.
The appointment of Angus MacIntyre has therefore opened another chapter in the political debate over Britain’s defence policy and the future treatment of those who have served in the armed forces.