A Daily Express poll has revealed that a majority of Britons would not be willing to fight for the UK in the event of a third world war. Of the 2,850 people who answered the question, 1,081 (38%) voted yes, 1,660 (58%) voted no, and 109 (4%) voted don't know.
Defence Concerns and Public Opinion
The results come as concerns rise over Britain's safety in the event of war, with continued pressure on the government to prioritise defence spending. This month, Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, told the Express that the Government needed to make a "clear statement of the threats to our security" to make the case for increasing the defence budget.
According to a poll by Ipsos, fewer than three in ten Britons (29%) believe the state of the armed forces is "good", while 36% now believe it is "bad".
Home Defence Programme Proposals
Ministers have floated a new idea of a Home Defence Programme (HDP) to boost the country's resilience in the face of any potential conflict affecting the UK. As tensions rise between Ukraine and Russia and in the Middle East, Brits are being warned they may need to play their part in defending the nation.
The "evolving" HDP would focus on combining civilian and military efforts at a time of war. Former Cabinet Office minister Dan Jarvis told Parliament in October last year that the programme would provide a baseline understanding of what help the military would need and how roles may be filled during a conflict.
Warnings from Military and Security Chiefs
Earlier this year, a British Army general warned that the UK is not ready for war and that conscription may be necessary following threats from the Kremlin. The MI5 chief recently issued a warning that protecting the nation no longer means simply defending its borders, as the UK enters a "new era of national security".
General Sir Roly Walker, the head of the army, told Sky News that "every" citizen will be "asked to make sacrifices" and play their part in the defence of the country. Adding to the growing sense of panic, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed he has ordered emergency defence measures to safeguard France's critical national infrastructure against incoming Russian "hybrid attacks".
