Reform UK must set out clear plans for Ukraine, NATO and defence spending, writes Major General Tim Cross CBE

Nigel Farage and Reform UK finally have a chance to show willingness to lead on defence The party must set out a clear vision for Ukraine, Nato and Britain's armed forces, writes Major General Tim Cross Sign up to the Opinion Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Why has it taken so long for Nigel Farage to appoint Angus MacIntyre as Reform UK's defence spokesman? This is something I have discussed with various other commentators and the general view is it has to do with Reform' UKs reluctance to adopt a formal position on Ukraine and on President Donald Trump's defence decisions, including his apparent favouring of Russia over Ukraine, his attacks on Iran, and his apparent admiration for the presidents of China and North Korea, among other issues.

With the latest US midterm results and the final couple of years of the Trump presidency in play, maybe Nigel Farage's party will now be prepared to speak out clearly on where it stands. It needs to. What we need from Reform UK is unequivocal support for Ukraine in their war against Putin’s Russia. That war has escalated every year since their invasion and that escalation will continue. Putin is determined to force Ukraine to accept defeat – and he will do anything to bring that about, including flattening Kyiv and destroying Ukraine's national critical infrastructure, as well as its ability to provide and distribute energy, water, food, and all the other utilities and necessities of life, along with data centres, road and rail networks, and communications facilities.

TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say So, a clear policy laying out Reform UK’s determination to stand firm against Putin and ensure the UK provides everything we can to enable Ukraine to continue the fight – however long it takes. Following this, a clear statement Reform UK will increase the UK defence budget to meet the Nato target of 3.5 per cent of GDP, including a clear timetable of when that would be achieved and how they would find the necessary money.

And, along with that, clarity on what would and would not be included in that 3.5 per cent. Previous governments have basically fiddled the figures by including all kinds of expenditure that failed to add anything to the UK’s "fighting power"... like my pension! The 3.5 per cent must only include capabilities that directly improve our ability to fight and win on the battlefields in the oceans, the sky and on land. Next, a clarity about endorsing the recent Strategic Defence Review, which, whilst not perfect, was an excellent piece of work.

We do not need to "review" it again or kick the can down the road by calling for another one. That clarity includes our continuing support to Nato, to an independent nuclear deterrent, and to rebuilding the UK’s conventional fighting power. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Nigel Farage appoints Troubles veteran who braved 'most dangerous posting for British Army' as Reform's defence chief Nigel Farage vows to pardon veterans dragged to court 'merely for doing their job' Andy Burnham ordered by Red Wall MPs to cut welfare spending or risk losing election to Nigel Farage's Reform UK Nigel Farage pictured with veterans | NIGEL FARAGE This requires spelling out how they will both ensure we can fight and sustain high-intensity war-fighting operations if and when necessary, as well as engaging in the "hybrid" and "grey-zone" warfare that is happening every day in, for example, the cyber world — with disinformation campaigns and direct cyber-attacks on businesses — as well as small-scale physical proxy attacks on both military and non-military targets.

Crucially, this means having sufficient mass in fighting ships, submarines, combat aircraft and land forces – in both manned and unmanned systems — along with the numbers of trained people to fight them and the necessary logistics to sustain that fight. RAF veteran Angus MacIntyre will join Reform's top team | HANDOUT So, there is work to be done. Let us hope whoever is appointed has the necessary ability to do it. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Opinion Labour is playing a dangerous game with immigration – and here's why Opinion Harry and Meghan are deliberately trying to steal the King's spotlight with their pseudo royal tour - they won't succeed Opinion It gives me the raging hump when people talk about banning the flag Opinion America didn’t vote for socialism.

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