Conservatives offer tax incentive as part of 50,000 reservist pledge

Pollard said: "This Labour government is now rebuilding our military, including through increasing the size of our strategic reserves and giving them more opportunities to work with their regular counterparts." The Conservatives said their pledge would be to recruit approximately 18,000 new reservists to bring the total to 50,000. The trained and untrained strength of the Army, RAF and maritime reserves was more than 32,000 on 1 January 2026, according to government statistics , external . The Tories also want to ensure more reservists complete their minimum training days, which typically number 19 or 27 days. A reservist who meets their minimum training commitment and also passes their military training tests currently receives a tax-free bonus payment on top of their pay. The annual tax-free bounty was paid to 46% of reservists in 2024/25, according to the government , external . Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour was "dithering", highlighting John Healey's decision to quit as defence secretary due to concerns that funding for the defence investment plan fell "well short" of what is needed to keep the country safe. Badenoch said: "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. …