Complacent politicians have allowed Britain’s fighting power to wither

SIR – I am not old enough to remember 1937, with which the present moment has been compared, but I can remember the aftermath of the Second World War.

People who had fought – as well as those who, for sound reasons, had stayed at home – all expressed dismay over how unprepared Britain had been, despite the warnings from some politicians and the military.

Rishi Sunak’s comments about the British military being a “voluntary force” (“PM forced to rule out Army draft as Russian threat rises”, report, January 25) would be understandable if it were strong. But with numbers at an all-time low and the Royal Navy starved of recruits, it is hard to see Britain as a major fighting power.

Frankly, I think our leaders have failed to grasp the horrors lurking in the not too distant future.

AE Luke

Ramsbury, Wiltshire

SIR – While I agree that the British

Armed Forces are woefully underresourced, I would suggest that Con Coughlin (Comment, January 25) overstates the likelihood of full ground war with Russia.

Russia has been forced into a stalemate by a country that, 10 years ago, had just three infantry brigades – about 7,000 soldiers. Ukraine has never been an established military power, yet it has inflicted immense damage on the Russian army.

We cannot be complacent about the increasingly erratic Vladimir Putin, but Russia is in no position to wage war against any Eastern European country on its border – let alone Nato.

Roland Bell London N17

SIR – Rishi Sunak should not be so quick to dismiss an Army draft. Deterrence through strength is better than weakness leading to war.

The British people instinctively abhor appeasement. A prime minister willing to recalibrate the British economy to defend itself would attract support from both Labour and Conservative voters.

Spending in certain areas should be cut to allow defence spending to double. Trebling Army reservists and ramping up arms manufacture would galvanise the economy.

Colin Clark

Conservative MP for Gordon, 2017-2019 Aberdeen

SIR – The recruitment and retention crisis in the Armed Forces comes as no surprise. Has anyone experienced the RAF enrolment portal recently?

My daughter, ahead of finishing sixth-form, attempted to use it to apply. It is extremely user-unfriendly, with many glitches and no guidelines, explanations or prompts.

Frustrated with the length of time it was taking, my daughter and I abandoned the process, and she elected to go to university instead. Matt Bayliss-binks Woodley, Berkshire