Britons will need to be prepared to 'play a part' in the defence and security of the country, a senior army chief has warned. General Sir Roly Walker said the nation would soon have a 'frank conversation' as the 'business of soldiering' returns to public consciousness.
Army chief warns of 'very dangerous time'
The army Chief of the General Staff referred to the current geopolitical climate as a 'very dangerous time'. He told an assembly of 700 soldiers from the Catterick Garrison that the government would need to present the choice facing the country, explaining the sacrifices needed to see off threats and urge citizens to back the armed forces to 'take the fight to the enemy'.
'Very soon the political leaders of this country will start to have a frank conversation with the citizens of this country about just what is going on, and where the red lines and what the nation must need to be prepared to do', he said.
Public backing and defence spending
'They need to understand what is going on in the world in defence and security and why now appears to be a very dangerous time.' He added: 'They need to understand what we do for them, they need to consent to allow us to do that – which means sacrifices by them – and ultimately, we're going to need them to back us, to back you, to do the one thing that you do, that nobody else gets to do, and that is to take the fight to the enemy.'
His stark message was delivered as polling suggests that up to half of the population would not fight under any circumstances. However, the same survey found more than half of the country were supportive of increased defence spending.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton said that future crisis preparedness and resilience would require other parties to be involved in defending the country, including civil society and emergency services.
Political context and budget plans
Defence secretary Wes Streeting told the Labour conference last month that defence spending comes with 'choices and trade-offs'. But he insisted the country would not be made stronger by making citizens poorer.
The Chancellor, John Healey, is set to unveil defence spending plans in his upcoming budget, scheduled for October 28.
