Overview
- Recruitment opens in March 2026 for a voluntary trial offering 150 places to under‑25s, modelled on Australia’s approach and designed to build skills across the services.
- The Ministry of Defence says there are no plans to reintroduce conscription, positioning the pilot as a new pathway to boost interest in the armed forces.
- The British Army’s trained regular strength stood at about 73,847 in January 2025, a historic low that has intensified questions over how to expand capacity.
- Russian officials and state media have escalated hostile rhetoric, including branding British soldiers “legitimate targets” and airing threats that named European capitals.
- Experts are divided, with figures such as Anthony Glees urging some form of national service while historian Richard Vinen warns short‑term conscripts have limited utility in modern warfare; a YouGov poll reported 72% support for including women if a draft were ever introduced.