Nigel Farage and Reform UK have one huge hole in party that should worry supporters

Reform UK's star is rising in the run up to May's council elections and the Runcorn by-election, in both of which Reform is expected to win big, likely picking up its newest MP. Understandably the party is focused on bread-and-butter domestic issues: economy, immigration, health, crime, and the like.

These are the major areas of concern for voters. But the time will come when Reform - as part of its professionalisation drive - needs some big ideas on defence and international affairs.

Frankly, the neat division between domestic and foreign policy is illusory. Even the recent victory Reform scored forcing Labour's hand over British Steel can be seen in the context of a rising China, the Trump tariffs, and the need to safeguard a critical UK industry.

Indeed, immigration can also be viewed as a foreign policy matter since push factors overseas largely catalyse cross-border movement. To be fair to Nigel Farage and Reform, the party has already come out with defence policies such as increasing military spending to 3% of economic output, while increasing basic pay, as well as creating a Department for Veterans.

Reform could now think more about what foreign policy under a Farage government would look like. Reform supporters would surely be delighted to see a UK unshackled from Brussels draw closer to the Commonwealth.

This could begin with the 'CANZUK' countries - Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK - which share a King, culture, and language. To guard against accusations of racism, this group could be widened to include all 'Commonwealth Realms' which share Charles III, such as Jamaica and Papua New Guinea.

What better way to counter the Little Englander narrative? Together these states would be the world's largest polity and its third largest economy, while knitting their militaries together would build on the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan and British Commonwealth Forces Korea. There is a precedent.

Reform also needs policies ready for a war over Taiwan between China and the US. Ensuring a strong military, safeguarding the military base at Diego Garcia (something Reform already made a big splash over), and ensuring the UK has ready access to basic supplies in the event of a Covid-style economic shock could all be in the mix.

Meanwhile some fleshed-out ideas on isolationism vs interventionism; how Britain navigates relations with the Commonwealth, the EU, and the US; and how Britain safeguards its global interests (including territories like Gibraltar and the Falklands) must also be considered. Voters care about Britain's defence and need to know Reform would be a responsible government when it comes to protecting the country in the sea and sky, or in the event of a world war-type shock.

Fortunately for Reform the party has time on its side before the next general election - slated for 2029 - while a new think tank will help, plus the Conservative and Labour parties have hardly covered themselves in glory when it comes to defence policy in particular.

Now though, Reform needs to broaden beyond albeit-critical issues like immigration, health, and crime to think very deeply about military matters and foreign affairs. Reform voters want a strong military and would support enhanced Commonwealth ties. They want to know Reform is ready for government.