Amid escalating global tensions and stark warnings from Vladimir Putin's allies, defence experts are sounding the alarm over Britain's military readiness. The chilling prospect of a wider European conflict has ignited a serious debate about the potential need to reintroduce conscription, including for women, to bolster the nation's defences.
A Call to Arms in an Age of 'Radical Uncertainty'
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has previously stated that "nobody is talking about conscription" in Britain. However, security analysts argue that the current voluntary force is inadequate for a major war. Professor Anthony Glees, a European affairs expert from the University of Buckingham, told The Mirror that increasing armed forces size through conscription is a crucial, cost-effective measure being "totally ignored".
The government's own National Security Strategy report paints a grim picture, suggesting the danger from nuclear weapons is now "more complex than it was even in the Cold War". In response, Mr Starmer has pledged to spend five per cent of GDP on national security within a decade, aiming to unify civilian and military efforts like never before since 1945.
How Conscription Could Work for Women in Modern Britain
While the UK has never drafted women into direct combat roles, public opinion appears to be shifting. A YouGov poll from earlier this year found 72% of respondents supported conscripting women alongside men if such a measure were ever reinstated.
Historical precedent offers a blueprint. During World War II, the 1941 National Service Act called up single women and widows aged 20 to 30 without children. By mid-1943, nearly 90% of single women and 80% of married women were engaged in essential war work. Today, with all combat roles open to women since 2018, any future draft could see them serving on the front lines.
Certain roles would likely remain exempt for both sexes, such as those in vital industries or for medical reasons, but the expectation would be for a widespread national effort.
Gap Year Scheme and the Persistent Threat from Russia
In a bid to boost recruitment voluntarily, the government is reportedly launching a new military 'gap year' scheme in March 2026. Modelled on an Australian initiative, it will start with 150 under-25s, with hopes to expand to over 1,000 annually, building skills against the backdrop of Russian aggression.
This comes as Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov issued dire threats in December, listing European capitals like Berlin, Paris, and Vienna as potential targets and declaring a "nuclear strike on Britain is inevitable". Professor Glees argues that a large, well-trained land army would deter Putin where nuclear threats have failed, as evidenced by the war in Ukraine.
Despite the heated debate, successive governments have ruled out mandatory national service, believing a professional, volunteer force is best. Yet, with the security landscape deteriorating, some experts now insist a form of conscription is "absolutely vital" for the UK's future defence.
