As well as their renewed aggression in Ukraine, where they appear willing to suffer casualties on a vast scale, they could be on the verge of obtaining hundreds of missiles from Iran.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: GETTY)

We cannot let Russia win in Ukraine. As I said in Parliament this week, the Government should confirm to Zelenskyy he has full autonomy over all the weapons we provide – including long-range missiles.

Like Express readers, we are proud of our support in Ukraine, but in parallel we must prioritise replenishment of the weapons used by our own armed forces.

A key part of our funded plan to increase defence spending to 2.5% was to urgently restock our munitions.

Putin is threatening war with NATO, and a new battle lines are being drawn by Iran and Russia.

But Labour still refuse to match our plan to reduce the civil service in order to fund 2.5%. Labour’s political logic is having a real impact on our national security in the face of a looming emergency.

This means cuts are likely to be on the way at the Ministry of Defence – at the worst possible time. Because they still have no plan to increase funding, other crucial programmes are in trouble too.

Just this week, as the respected and politically neutral RUSI have warned the ‘damage of Labour’s doubt’ puts our next generation fighter jet at risk.

As well as threats to our national security and our standing with allies, not continuing our plans threatens thousands of jobs in the UK.

We will work with the Government to support Ukraine. But they in turn must set out a clear pathway to 2.5%, as we did in office. The safety and security of the country depends on it.

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‘I stood for Reform UK at the General Election – these are the places we’ll win in 2029’

Dan Barker joined Reform UK after being disillusioned by the Tories (Image: Dan Barker)

Dan Barker, who ran for Reform UK in the 2024 general election in the Blackpool North and Fleetwood constituency, has revealed to Express.co.uk which areas he believes his party could win in the next elections.

Despite a challenging campaign and limited resources, Barker believes Reform UK is well-positioned to grow significantly by the time of the 2029 election, especially in certain regions across the UK.

Reflecting on his experience, Barker admitted that running as a Reform UK candidate was not without its hurdles.

“When they called the snap election, I had just a few weeks to build a campaign. I rented a static caravan, worked during the day, and campaigned in the evenings and weekends,” he shared. “It was tough without a big team, but I was amazed by the response from the community.”

He was particularly struck by the warm reception he received in Fleetwood, describing the area as “amazing”.

Dan believes Nigel Farage could be the next PM (Image: Dan Barker)

When asked about the party’s most winnable seats in 2029, Barker pointed to several regions where he believes Reform UK has the best chance of success.

“We’ve done well in the north of England, the Midlands, and coastal areas. These are places where people are tired of broken promises from the Tories and Labour,” he noted.

He added that while metropolitan areas may be harder to crack, there is potential as Labour’s policies might cause voters to rethink their loyalties.

“We’re also expecting to be successful in Welsh and Scottish constituencies,” he said, citing growing frustration with the main political parties in those areas.

Barker, who moved from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, says he was driven by a desire for a more genuine political culture.

“The difference with Reform UK is night and day compared to the Tories. There’s a team spirit and honesty that the Conservatives don’t have. People support each other and believe in what we’re doing,” he said.

During the campaign, Barker noted that many voters resonated with Reform UK’s stances on key issues such as immigration, national sovereignty, and dissatisfaction with the major parties.

“We’re talking about common sense and putting British people first,” Barker explained. He noted that disillusionment with the Conservatives and Labour’s shift towards the left have created an opportunity for Reform UK to step in.

As Barker and Reform UK look toward 2029, the party is focused on building stronger local infrastructures and addressing the issues most important to British voters.

“We’ve got to differentiate ourselves from the Conservatives. They say all the right things but deliver the opposite. We’re the party of common sense, and we mean what we say.”

Looking back at the 2024 general election, Barker acknowledged that Reform UK faced significant challenges but remains hopeful for the future.

“The Tories ran a campaign saying, ‘Vote Labour, get Reform,’ but I think it will be different next time. The Conservatives are still in disarray, and it’s not clear how they’ll rebuild before the next election.”

He also believes that public sentiment around issues like net-zero policies, immigration, and crime could play in Reform UK’s favor.

“If the net-zero stuff leads to blackouts or people feel they’re at the back of the queue because of illegal immigration, that benefits us. We’re the party that’s actually listening to people’s concerns.”

Regarding Nigel Farage’s role in the future of the party, Barker didn’t shy away from acknowledging Farage’s influence.

“Farage gave us a boost. He’s a Marmite character— some people love him, some hate him. But he’s very trusted and has the charisma that Boris Johnson had for a while. I see him taking us into the next election, and if things go our way, I could see him being our next prime minister.”

Phuong