Britain must recruit army of citizens, says general
BRITAIN must recruit a ‘citizen army’ ahead of any conflict with Vladimir Putin, the UK’s most senior soldier has warned.
General Sir Patrick Sanders said preparing for war against Russia should be a ‘whole- ofnation’ undertaking, including ‘national mobilisation’.
The Chief of the General Staff stopped short of calling for UK conscription, which ended in 1960.
However, Downing Street yesterday dismissed Sir Patrick’s suggestions. A spokesman for the Prime Minister described such ‘ hypothetical scenarios’ in a time of conflict as ‘not helpful’. They added: ‘The British military has a proud tradition of being a voluntary force. There are no plans to change that.’
Sir Patrick, 57, approaching the end of his tenure, noted that countries such as Sweden are taking measures to prepare for war.
The General also appeared to criticise decisions by successive defence ministers to reduce the size of the British Army.
It has shrunk by 28 per cent in the past 12 years to around 103,000 soldiers, of which around 76,000 are regulars and 27,000 are reservists.
Sir Patrick, at the International Armoured Vehicles Conference in Twickenham, west London, said this trend must be reversed.
He added: ‘We need an Army designed to expand rapidly to enable the first echelon, resource the
second echelon and train and equip the citizen army that must follow.
‘Within the next three years, it must be credible to talk of a British Army of 120,000, folding in our reserve and strategic reserve. But this is not enough.
‘Our friends in eastern and northern Europe, who feel the proximity of the Russian threat more acutely, are already laying foundations for national mobilisation.
‘ Taking preparatory steps to enable placing our societies on a war footing when needed are now not merely desirable but essential.’
Any significant increase in the Armed Forces would likely require additional public resources.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has resisted calls for defence spending to rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by any set date.
While the UK is currently spending around 2.2 per cent of GDP, Sir Patrick pointed out that Russia is ‘spending nearly 40 per cent of public expenditure on defence’.
‘Placing us on a war footing is essential’