An author and historian has named on specific group of Brits that will be most targeted in the face of conscription should World War 3 break out
A specific group of Brits could find themselves in the firing line if conscription were to be reintroduced, according to one expert.
With ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Iranian regime teetering on the brink of collapse, China’s ambitions towards Taiwan, and Donald Trump making overtures about Greenland, anxieties surrounding a possible third world war have reached fever pitch.
While nations on Russia’s doorstep such as Finland and Estonia have spent years preparing their citizens for potential conflict, those in Western Europe are only now starting down the same path.
Britain is among those considered to be lagging behind, with some arguing the nation’s military capability is at its weakest point in over seven decades.
Conscription – the mandatory recruitment into the armed services – might therefore become one of the Government’s main recourse should war break out.
Historian and author David Swift put forward the view that any conscription programme would primarily focus on unemployed graduates, whilst those working in two particular industries would likely receive exemptions from service, reports the Express.
He explained: “Today, since there is such an urgent need to rebuild Britain’s defence industries and industrial capacity, I would expect that people in these important occupations would be exempt.”
“Or even that people could be ‘conscripted’ into working in these industries, and that military conscription would target unemployed graduates – this would be very popular with lots of people and especially the Blue Labour thinkers behind Starmer.”
Mr Swift isn’t alone in raising concerns about potential UK conscription. Retired Army major and military historian Robert Lyman told the Express he believes Britain’s armed forces are at their weakest since the Napoleonic era.
Mr Lyman stated: “Our armed forces have never been so denuded of power since the Napoleonic wars. It’s really hard to describe how poorly-prepared we are – we have an Army that is probably smaller than it was during the Napoleonic wars.
“We all talk about the need for technology and how cyber and drones will win the next war. All of that is palpable nonsense.
“The way that wars are won are by mass of intelligence, infantry, armour and artillery, well-coordinated using technology to assist them. “You can’t win wars using small armies. “”.
Over the past 126 years, the UK has implemented conscription just twice – first between 1916 and 1920, and again from 1939 to 1960.
