The House of Lords has sent a chilling message to the general public warning conscription may be inevitable, as our military is too small.
A report was carried out by the Lords international relations and defence committee, which painted a very bleak picture of the UK’s future. Adding to this, they said civilians must be prepared to stand up.
The Armed Forces “lack the mass, resilience, and internal coherence necessary to maintain a deterrent effect and respond effectively to prolonged and high-intensity warfare,” claims the report. Threats that international tensions are rising were also mentioned.
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It appears all evidence “points to the current size of the British Army being inadequate” and asked “whether the Army is prepared to meet the growing threat posed by Russia to European security”.
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Calls for the country to adopt “the mindset of a nation under genuine threat” was perpetuated through the whole report. The Telegraph reported earlier this year that the military was struggling with numbers, according to Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, former head of the army.
He added that due to these small numbers, the public will be forced to stand up in their place. Under the Conservative Government, troop numbers were pinched and cut down to their smallest number since the Napoleonic Wars.
The British Army was cut by 10,000 to 72,500 people. The report said discussion around the issue “could end up veering into discussions around conscription”, Labour has “an opportunity to broaden this out and consider how it could incorporate the whole of society in building resilience”.
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Apparently there is “alarmingly low” information in the public about UK’s defence strategy. “The mindset of a nation under genuine threat is absent, and there is an urgent need to invest in shaping how people perceive the value of defence,” said the report.
The report added Brits need to be encouraged to adopt a national spirit. Lord Houghton of Richmond, a former head of the Armed Forces, wrote: “Events in Ukraine have demonstrated that defence is not just about physical capabilities, it is also about resilience and the psychological readiness of the nation.
“Engaging the broader society in defence is crucial. This involves integrating civilian capabilities, fostering community engagement, breaking down barriers between the public and the military, and addressing the emotional aspects of national defence.”
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