Conservatives will deliver a 50,000-strong Armed Forces Reserve – by making reserve service tax free
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Today [Saturday 27th June 2026], on Armed Forces Day, the
Conservatives have announced that the next Conservative Government
will increase the size of our military Reserve by over 50% to
50,000 - incentivised by making service in the Reserves tax free.
With most Reservists already working in a full time civilian
career, any Reserve service is taxed at their highest marginal
rate. So we will introduce Tax-Free Reserve Service, incentivising
people to become a Reservist...Request free trial
Today [Saturday 27th June 2026], on Armed Forces Day, the Conservatives have announced that the next Conservative Government will increase the size of our military Reserve by over 50% to 50,000 - incentivised by making service in the Reserves tax free. With most Reservists already working in a full time civilian career, any Reserve service is taxed at their highest marginal rate. So we will introduce Tax-Free Reserve Service, incentivising people to become a Reservist by making the first 30 days of service per financial year completely tax free. Only 46% of Reservists currently complete their minimum service days (typically 19 or 27 days). As such, the Conservatives not only want to recruit more reservists but ensure more of them complete their minimum training days - boosting war readiness. The Conservatives are serious about protecting our national interest. That's why we're pledging to boost the size of the military and hire approximately 18,000 new reservists. This will also help increase retention of volunteers and provide a long-term pipeline into the full-time regular forces. Almost half of people leaving the Reserves say their reason for doing so is that they don't feel valued by the service. That has to change. We need our fighting men and women to feel that we have their backs. Our changes will provide a significant financial boost to existing reservists, acting as a thank you' for their hard work. A nurse who is a Sergeant in the Reserves could gain an extra £640 per year, while a software engineer programmer who is a Major in the Reserves could gain an extra £1,910 per year. This fully costed policy will be paid for as part of the Conservatives' commitment to restore the two-child benefit cap and use the savings to fund our defence. It builds on our previous commitment to grow the regular army by 6,000 troops. In contrast, Labour have no plan to provide the funding our Armed Forces need. Their Defence Investment Plan is still nowhere to be seen having been promised for autumn 2025. In a matter of days, both the Defence Secretary and the Armed Forces Minister resigned from Keir Starmer's Government over his refusal to fund defence properly. And Andy Burnham has failed to commit to a change of course, meaning more uncertainty for our military. Labour are more interested in funding welfare than funding defence. They are happy to dish out billions in handouts but won't back our troops. The Conservatives are the only party with a serious plan to back our Armed Forces, including by launching a Sovereign Defence Fund that will raise billions to overhaul our military capability. Kemi Badenoch MP and Mark Francois MP, Shadow Defence Minister, visited Carver Barracks in Saffron Walden this week, speaking to 300 soldiers about the vital importance of our military in keeping us safe. The Conservatives will always stand with our Armed Forces. Kemi Badenoch MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, 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. To fund our defence, Britain has to cut its welfare bill. That is why the Conservatives will restore the two-child benefit cap and use the money saved on defence. 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. James Cartlidge MP, Shadow Defence Secretary, said: "Countries across NATO are boosting their Reserves to stand up to the more dangerous world we all face. Britain must do the same, but whilst other countries have used conscription, we remain committed to a professional, volunteer armed forces - and that means we need to make Reserve service financially worthwhile. For those who already have full-time jobs and want to serve their country, the last thing we should want is for them to be clobbered by the taxman for giving up their evenings and weekends. So we would deliver our fully funded plan for Tax Free Reserve Service, to back our 'citizen soldiers' and help deliver a stronger Armed Forces. Sir James Cleverly MP, Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve and Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: Our reservists play a critical role in keeping our country safe. But we need more of them, and we need them fast. This sends a really powerful signal that we value those who serve in our Reserve forces. As an active reservist myself, I know this will mean a huge amount to those who stand up and serve. This Armed Forces Day, we are thanking our brave reservists, driving up recruitment, and ensuring Britain can stand strong in the world. Tom Tugendhat MP, Iraq War and Afghanistan War veteran, ex-Army Reserve and now Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve and former Security Minister, said: There is no denying the danger our country faces from those who wish us harm. I have seen with my own eyes the incredible bravery of our reservists and I know how crucial they are in keeping us safe. But they need proper support to do it. That means training. By cutting reservists' taxes, we will encourage days on exercise and improve readiness, and give them a much-deserved vote of confidence and increase strength to 50,000, putting Britain in a stronger position to face down our adversaries. Mark Francois MP, former Territorial Army Officer and Shadow Defence Minister 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. The Conservatives are serious about supporting our Armed Forces. That's why we'll cut taxes for reservists and boost recruitment and retention. We are proud of our servicemen and women, and we will always have their backs. ENDS Notes to Editors
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