Conservatives offer tax incentive as part of 50,000 reservist pledge
Summary
The UK Conservative Party proposed a tax cut to encourage more people to join the military reserves, aiming to increase reservists to 50,000. The plan would make the first 30 days of reservist service each year tax-free and is funded by restoring a limit on child benefit payments.Key Facts
- The Conservatives want to increase UK military reservists to 50,000 by recruiting about 18,000 new members.
- Reservists who serve up to 30 days per year would pay no tax on their reservist earnings for those days.
- This tax cut would be paid for by bringing back the two-child benefit cap, reducing welfare spending.
- The UK's current trained and untrained reserves total over 32,000 as of January 2026.
- Around 46% of reservists received a tax-free bonus for completing training and tests in 2024/25.
- Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said cutting welfare is necessary to fund the military.
- Labour officials criticized the Conservatives for poor management of military recruitment in previous years.
- The government’s recent Strategic Defence Review plans to increase the reserve forces by at least 20% in the 2030s and improve recruitment.
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