Wes Streeting has told a Reform UK MP it is “irresponsible” and “inaccurate” to suggest the UK cannot defend the Falkland Islands.
The defence secretary was responding to Andrew Rosindell in the House of Commons. Rosindell defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK in January 2026, days after Robert Jenrick, the former cabinet minister, was welcomed by Nigel Farage’s party.
Rosindell’s main stated reason for his defection was his opposition to the UK’s handover of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Speaking at defence questions on Monday afternoon, Rosindell said that since 2020 “the Royal Navy has lost more than half its frigates, their entire landing craft capability, its only icebreaker, and all of its attack submarines are now inoperable”.
He told the House: “I fear that our ability to protect the Falkland Islands is now in doubt.”
Rosindell asked the defence secretary to “take defence of His Majesty’s overseas territories seriously and rebuild our naval capability”.
Streeting replied: “It is simply irresponsible, not to mention inaccurate, to suggest that the UK is incapable of defending the Falkland Islands. We are perfectly capable of doing that.
“We had a very visible demonstration only recently.”
He added: “Maybe if Reform had a defence spokesperson, they might have noticed.”
Reform UK has yet to appoint a defence spokesperson, having named senior figures to cover other briefs earlier this year.
In February 2026, Reform UK unveiled its own so-called “shadow cabinet” or frontbench. Jenrick was announced as “shadow chancellor”, Suella Braverman was appointed as “shadow education secretary”, Richard Tice as “shadow business, trade and energy secretary”, and Zia Yusuf as “shadow home secretary”.
At the time, Farage stated: “With Labour’s growing instability, and Keir Starmer’s leadership on the verge of collapse, it is vital we prepare seriously for government.
“I am bringing together a strong, disciplined and experienced team ready to rebuild Britain. The British people deserve a real alternative. Today we are demonstrating that Reform UK is ready to provide it.”
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