Lord George Robertson, a former Nato secretary general, has called on the UK government to reintroduce mandatory national service to bolster national security. He argues that the country should adopt a model similar to Sweden's 'total defence' policy, which requires all residents aged 16 to 70 to contribute to military or civil defence.
The ex-Nato chief previously warned that the government was 'underprepared' for a potential attack. He now advocates for a system that defines clear civil resilience roles, akin to Sweden's approach, where citizens are expected to cope without electricity, water, or shops for extended periods.
Speaking about the proposal, Lord Robertson acknowledged it might go against British tradition but stressed the need given current threats. He expressed disappointment that a defence readiness bill, which would involve society as a whole, is unlikely to feature in the upcoming King's Speech.
The UK phased out conscription after World War Two, with the last conscripted serviceman leaving the armed forces in 1963. However, rising global tensions—including the war in Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, and recent US threats over Greenland and the Falkland Islands—have renewed calls for a national service scheme.
