Brits who refuse conscription in the event of a world war could face a "severe" punishment, an expert has claimed. Fears that the UK will need to introduce compulsory military service have escalated in recent weeks following threats from Russia.
One of Vladimir Putin's closest advisers warned he could not "100% exclude" the prospect of "semi-military" action against British facilities, after the Armed Forces gave Volodymyr Zelensky's men the blueprints to build its own Storm Shadow missiles. A UK security source has admitted Russia is "preparing something", something Prime Minister Andy Burnham has hinted at by saying a Russian attack is "inevitable".
Conscription history and possible punishments
Conscription refers to when a government enforces a mandatory enlistment of individuals into military service. Over the past 126 years there have only been two instances of conscription in the UK: the first between 1916 and 1920 and the second between 1939 and 1960.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, author and historian David Swift suggested that rather than prison time, fines might be imposed on those who refuse to sign up. He said: "I imagine it would be fines rather than imprisonment or anything like that, due to: 1. Lack of prison capacity. 2. Difficulty enforcing and lack of legitimacy and 3. That 'conscription', if introduced, would be very much focused around monetary reward."
Greek and Swiss examples
On what sort of fines we might expect, Swift suggested the UK could copy the example of the Greek government. In Greece, there was a fine of €6,000 (£5213.19) for not signing up, but in 2019 the country debated removing the fine altogether. The Express approached the Greek embassy in London for comment, but they did not respond.
Swift also suggested Britain could follow the Swiss example. He explained: "In Switzerland, you have to pay an additional three percent in taxes if you refuse military service for the duration of the time you were meant to be in military training."
"This way, the fines are severe enough so that they present a genuine disincentive not to serve (if it was only a few hundred quid you would have lots of people opting out), but not as severe as imprisonment."
Government stance on conscription
Conscription currently appears unlikely. In 2024, former head of the British Army General Sir Patrick Sanders said the UK should start laying the groundwork for "national mobilisation" and a "citizen army" in response to the threat posed by Russia. Downing Street rejected the idea.
A spokesperson for then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Government had "no intention" of bringing in conscription, a stance repeated by Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden in March 2025. Instead, ministers have consistently argued Britain is best protected by a highly trained, professional military made up of volunteers, rather than compulsory service.
