In an exclusive report for the Daily Mirror, assistant political editor Alexander Brown revealed that a group of Labour MPs has accused Reform UK of showing an “amateur and irresponsible approach” to Britain’s defence.
Speaking to defence sources, it is clear the row comes at a time when shipbuilding is increasingly central to UK industrial policy. The Clyde yards in Glasgow are building the Type 26 frigates, while Rosyth builds the Type 31 programme. Both are positioned as export-ready designs, with BAE Systems and Babcock aiming to leverage these projects for international sales. Against that backdrop, any suggestion that political parties are not taking shipbuilding seriously is seen in industry circles as a risk to confidence and long-term planning.
Parliament has repeatedly heard ministers describe shipbuilding as a foundation industry for national security. The Strategic Defence Review, published earlier this year, identified maritime capability as one of the UK’s comparative strengths. Labour MPs now accuse Reform of failing to engage with this strategic narrative, while Reform insists they alone have pressed the government to use British steel in naval construction.
According to the Mirror, a dozen MPs, including several representing coastal constituencies, signed a letter organised by Scottish Labour MP Graeme Downie that condemned Nigel Farage and his party for failing to address shipbuilding in their manifesto.
The MPs argued that Reform’s silence amounted to a “gross betrayal” of national security and British industry.
The letter, cited by the Mirror, pointed out that neither Farage nor his colleagues had spoken during parliamentary debates on the Strategic Defence Review in June or the Westminster Hall session on shipyards and economic growth in March. It stated:
“It is disappointing that someone who says he aspires to becoming Prime Minister of this fantastic country can fail to support the vital work of our shipbuilding industry. To continue to fail to do so would be a gross betrayal of both our national security and one of our most vital industries.”
Downie and his colleagues highlighted the scale of the sector, noting that shipbuilding employs nearly 40,000 people across the UK and generates close to £3 billion in output. The letter also directly challenged Farage’s understanding of Britain’s maritime heritage and the strategic importance of naval shipbuilding to an island nation. The Mirror further reported that MPs including Amanda Martin, Tracey Gilbert, Gregor Poynton and Calvin Bailey co-signed the letter, many of whom sit on the Defence Select Committee or represent constituencies where shipbuilding remains central to the local economy.
Responding to the criticism, Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice told the Mirror:
“Reform were the only party with a plan at the last election to vastly increase defence spending. Nigel and I lead the way on saving British steel after Labour let Port Talbot blast furnaces close and dragged their feet with Scunthorpe. We are the only party with a serious plan to use British steel for shipbuilding in the country.”
Can’t stand farage but this is really desperate stuff by the other oarties. I would imagine there’s lots of things not in their manifesto its not like they expected to win the last election they had only. Just formed. Maybe ask him his policy rather than all this pathetic posturing
once again, it seems. that this government blames all. but ones self.
if it was not for the events with Ukraine and Russia , would it be fair to say, this government would have little interest in the military
like the pervious occupants of downing street. for who was it. that has been hollowing it out ,
we should have been increasing the military. not reducing it.
just my humble humble opinion. feel free…
The traitors are conservative and labour , For decades they have been dismantling the Armed Forces.
Labour MPs know they will be turkeys at Christmas at the next election. Reform came second to labour in 89 seats. Labour will throw lots of mud in the hope that some sticks.
As a Labour Party member (boo hissss) this seems a pretty crappy low thing to come out with.
Everything they say is the letter is true though, it’s not from the government it’s from a backbench MP who’s constituency depends on ship building.
the rag tag bunch of muppets that make up Reform will be a disaster for this country and perhaps the end of the entire western alliance. Can anyone here really put hand on heart and say Nigel Farrage has a scooby what’s he is doing much less the rest of his “party”
All they do is lie and pretend they have simple solutions to all our problems while generally trying to get American TV appearances.
I’m frequently amazed about how many people on here can criticise the Americans over Trump and his MAGA nonsense then in the same breath say Reform is the Answer for the UK.
Reforms only clear policy is NHS privatisation. Farrage has said that’s what he is going to do on dozens of occasions.
Yet the same people voting for him are often of the persuasion that they paid in and Basic state pension and NHS are sacrosanct.
It’s like Turkeys voting for Christmas.
Just shows that Labour and the Tories private polling must be dismal.
Ludicrous attacks on reform wanting to scrap the online safety act by a party who will be exposed over covering up the grooming gangs and now attacks on defence from the same party that promises an increase in 2027 and aspirations for 3.5 which will be fiddled. The same party that didn’t build a frigate in 14 years.
Labour won’t cut through with these attacks, and the Tories are irrelevant.
Reform need to wheel out a credible military figure and lay down policy ideas.
It seems to me to be a good line – RefUK are after coastal constituencies so let’s have a debate about it !
Farage and Little Richard can’t debate on policies as they don’t have any, being a political marketing setup who are currently changing all their spots to seem less extreme – eg individual risk assessments for trans prisoners in women’s prisons.
And their “Contract with the People” at the 2024 Election had a £100bn+ black hole in it, according to independent analysis.
I have a Reform MP, who when he wanted an asylum hotel to frighten people with, had to point at NHS staff on holiday together because there weren’t any asylum hotels – so I know how poisonous Reform has become.
Let the mud-slinging and projection begin.
Typical uniparty crap just making stuff up.
A story made out of a non story. It’s like Labour to Farage …….’what’s your favourite colour.? ……Farage says ‘Purple’ Now Labour comes out with the tag line….’Farage hates blacks’. It’s the way Labour spin things.
A manifesto means NOTHING, as Starmer has shown this country since the election.