UK conscription explained as US refuses to rule out army draft | UK | News

The UK’s current stance on conscription became clear after the White House rejected plans for a Vietnam-style military draft in the US.

When asked if it happened last night Donald Trump White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that she would deploy troops to Iran and initiate a military draft: “This is not part of the current plan at this time, but the president is again wisely keeping his options on the table.”

Meanwhile, Croatia this week became the latest country to call on teenagers for compulsory military service, while thousands of young people in Germany boycotted school over compulsory fitness testing for 18-year-old boys, which critics say is a precursor to compulsory military service.

But in Britain the government has made clear that it has no intention of reintroducing conscription or any form of National Service, which was abolished in the 1960s.

In December, Defense Secretary John Healey argued that Britain “did not need” to reintroduce such a plan, arguing that funds would be better used to ensure the country had “major professional forces” after years of Tory defense cuts.

However, some experts continue to support the concept of some form of incentivized military service; Among them is an expert who suggests that tuition fees should be waived for young individuals today if they enlist in the military.

Anthony Glees, professor at the University of Buckingham and former director of the Center for Security and Intelligence Studies, said: “I totally agree with that. We have to deter Putin from a conventional war just as we have deterred him from a nuclear war. That means troops as well as equipment and, of course, it means we have to spend huge amounts of money.”

“I have argued in the past that our young people need an incentive to stand up for patriotism to get them to enlist to defend us. In World War II, soldiers were encouraged by the prospect of an NHS and home to heroes if they won.

“Well, we’ve got the NHS, so let’s deliver homes, give free further and higher education, cancel student debt. I’d even close 50% of our universities to help fund it all.”

During the Second World War, Britain drafted all men between the ages of 18 and 41; Exemptions were granted to those who were medically unfit or worked in essential industries such as baking, farming and medicine.

After the war, the Ministry of Defense continued to call men aged 18 to 30 to National Service, a period of compulsory training in the armed forces lasting between 18 months and two years. This involved rigorous basic training known as ‘turmoil’, a small salary and, in some cases, postings abroad in Germany, Malaya and Korea.

The call to National Service officially ended on 31 December 1960, with the last personnel being demobilized in May 1963.

Ahead of the 2024 General Election, then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced widespread criticism for what many described as a ‘hasty’ manifesto pledge to bring back compulsory national service in Britain, which would have required full-time military deployment for 12 months or volunteering in weekend community roles.

He lost the election and his proposals were not reconsidered by the current Labor government.