A coalition of British peace and faith organisations has launched a campaign demanding that the Government rule out any return to military conscription, as heightened tensions with Russia intensify debate over Britain’s military preparedness.
Thirteen organisations, including ForcesWatch, the Peace Pledge Union and Quakers in Britain, are backing a petition calling for ministers to reject compulsory military service or any form of national service involving the armed forces.
The campaign comes as the UK faces renewed discussion over the size and resilience of its armed forces. The Conservatives have previously proposed a national service scheme, while Labour has expanded opportunities for military gap years. Britain currently has no system of conscription.
Emma Sangster of ForcesWatch, speaking on behalf of the coalition, said compulsory service would place unacceptable constraints on young people.
“Conscription is now a threat held over young people in the UK. People talk patronisingly of national service being good for young people, as if it didn’t pose significant risks to their physical and mental health, and impose the moral burdens of warfare on them.
She added: “We do not accept that militarised security will bring real human security. We do not accept that young people in this country should be drafted into its service through compulsory measures. It’s hard to believe that anyone would want that for their children and future generations.”
The dispute comes against a backdrop of growing confrontation between Britain and Moscow. The UK has handed Ukraine blueprints for components used in Storm Shadow missiles, prompting a sharp response from the Kremlin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s adviser Andrei Fedorov has warned that Moscow would not rule out “semi-military action” against UK manufacturing facilities, while the Russian Embassy in London has said Britain’s involvement in supporting Ukraine would “inevitably carry consequences.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also condemned the agreement.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has separately been warned that Britain faces an “inevitable” Russian attack on defence and security infrastructure in retaliation for its continued support for Kyiv, with security chiefs reportedly placed on alert.
The Government has previously urged the public to prepare for the possibility of conflict reaching British soil. France has also moved to strengthen its armed forces, announcing plans for military service last year as President Emmanuel Macron sought to increase national defence capabilities.
Public attitudes towards compulsory service remain divided. A YouGov survey of 3,044 people found that 38 per cent of under-40s would refuse to serve if a new world war broke out, while 30 per cent said they would refuse to serve even in the event of an imminent invasion of the UK.
The poll also found that 72 per cent supported women being conscripted alongside men, highlighting a significant level of support for equal treatment if compulsory military service were ever introduced.
British peace campaigners argue that any attempt to revive conscription would nevertheless represent a fundamental restriction on individual liberty.
The petition reads: “We reject conscription as a moral affront and an attack on human rights. It deprives young people of choices and opportunity at a vital time in their lives… Joining the armed forces is a political and moral choice that should never be forced on anyone.”
It concludes: “With war escalating around the world and record numbers of civilian casualties, now is the time to stand up for peaceful and cooperative approaches to conflict resolution.
Under the Military Service Act 1916 Britain first introduced conscription, before extending compulsory service to men aged 20 to 22 in 1939.
The latest campaign comes as governments across Europe reassess defence policy in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, placing renewed pressure on countries including Britain to determine how far they are prepared to go in expanding military capacity — and what obligations, if any, should fall on their citizens.
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