A new survey has found that only 22 percent of Britons under the age of 35 would be willing to join the armed forces or attached high importance to doing so, raising questions about the willingness of the most likely conscription demographic to fight in a potential World War 3.
The British Social Attitudes Survey, which questioned 4,656 Britons aged 16 and over about their willingness to serve, found that just 22 percent of those under 35 expressed willingness to enlist. This comes despite the growing threat posed by Russia and the fact that the survey, conducted every year since 1983, found more people viewed the USA as a threat.
Conscription History and Potential Reintroduction
Fears about a global conflict intensified ahead of the US Midterm Elections, when the USA sent a third aircraft carrier to the region before striking Iranian sites. As a result, concerns have grown about what could happen if war broke out and the UK became involved. One possibility is that conscription, which has not been used in the UK since 1963, could be reintroduced to bolster the armed forces.
While conscription is not currently on the cards, there is speculation over who would be the first to be called up. Conscription was last used in the UK in 1963, and it was also introduced during World War 2. On that occasion, the age range was widened from 20-to-22-year-olds in 1939 to men aged between 18 and 41.
The Parliament website said: “On the day Britain declared war on Germany, 3 September 1939, Parliament immediately passed a more wide-reaching measure. The National Service (Armed Forces) Act imposed conscription on all males aged between 18 and 41 who had to register for service.”
Expert Views on Who Would Be Called Up
Other experts have offered more contemporary opinions on who would and would not be likely to be called up in the event of World War 3. Speaking to The Express earlier this year, author and historian David Swift suggested that one group in particular would be targeted. He said: “Military conscription would target unemployed graduates - this would be very popular with lots of people.”
However, David suggested that those working in the UK's defence industries would be more likely to be exempt. He added: “Since there is such an urgent need to rebuild Britain's defence industries and industrial capacity, I would expect that people in these important occupations would be exempt. Or even that people could be 'conscripted' into working in these industries.”
