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Source: The Guardian
Army chief says people of UK are 'prewar generation' who must be ready to fight Russia
Ministry of Defence clarifies it has no plans for conscription after Gen Sir Patrick Sanders says UK should take steps to place society on war footing
Downing Street has dismissed a warning from the head of the British army that the UK public must be prepared to take up arms in a war against Vladimir Putin's Russia because today's professional military is too small.
Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said the prime minister did not agree with comments made by Gen Sir Patrick Sanders in a speech on Wednesday, and was forced to insist there would be no return to national service, which was abolished in 1960.
"Hypothetical scenarios" involving possible future wars was "not helpful", the No 10 spokesperson added, as the row opened up a rift between the Conservatives and the military at a time when cuts mean the army is at its smallest for more than 300 years.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also distanced itself from the speech, which was released by the British army on behalf of the senior general, who is due to leave in the summer, having missed out on becoming head of the armed forces three years ago.
Speaking at a military conference, Sanders starkly described the British people as part of a “prewar generation" who may have to prepare themselves to fight in a war against an increasingly aggressive Russia. The chief of general staff highlighted the example of Sweden, which has just reintroduced a form of national service as it closes in on joining Nato.
Please go to The Guardian to continue reading.
Source: The Guardian
Army chief says people of UK are 'prewar generation' who must be ready to fight Russia
Ministry of Defence clarifies it has no plans for conscription after Gen Sir Patrick Sanders says UK should take steps to place society on war footing
Gen Sanders said that in the last 30 years, the British army has halved in size.
Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
By Dan Sabbagh and Peter Walker | January 24, 2024
Downing Street has dismissed a warning from the head of the British army that the UK public must be prepared to take up arms in a war against Vladimir Putin's Russia because today's professional military is too small.
Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said the prime minister did not agree with comments made by Gen Sir Patrick Sanders in a speech on Wednesday, and was forced to insist there would be no return to national service, which was abolished in 1960.
"Hypothetical scenarios" involving possible future wars was "not helpful", the No 10 spokesperson added, as the row opened up a rift between the Conservatives and the military at a time when cuts mean the army is at its smallest for more than 300 years.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also distanced itself from the speech, which was released by the British army on behalf of the senior general, who is due to leave in the summer, having missed out on becoming head of the armed forces three years ago.
Speaking at a military conference, Sanders starkly described the British people as part of a “prewar generation" who may have to prepare themselves to fight in a war against an increasingly aggressive Russia. The chief of general staff highlighted the example of Sweden, which has just reintroduced a form of national service as it closes in on joining Nato.
Please go to The Guardian to continue reading.
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Here is a good analysis of what is going on inside the UK and the British military in the UK's drive to war against Russia:
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