Civilians must be ready to fight because Britain’s military is so small, warn peers

Civilians must be ready to fight because Britain’s military is too small, a House of Lords committee has warned.

The Armed Forces “lack the mass, resilience, and internal coherence necessary to maintain a deterrent effect and respond effectively to prolonged and high-intensity warfare”, a damning report by the Lords international relations and defence committee found.

The report said all evidence it had heard “points to the current size of the British Army being inadequate” and questioned “whether the British Army is prepared to meet the growing threat posed by Russia to European security”.

It called for the country to adopt “the mindset of a nation under genuine threat”.

It comes after The Telegraph revealed earlier this year that Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, the former head of the Army, would warn that the British public would be called up to fight in the event of war because the military was too small.

Under the previous Conservative government, troop numbers were cut to their smallest size since the Napoleonic era as they reduced the British Army by 10,000 to 72,500.

Sir Patrick, who stood down as chief of the general staff in June, believed there should be a “shift” in the mindset of regular British people, where they think more like troops, who are mentally prepared that war with Russia could happen.

The report warned that while there was a risk that conversations around civilians “could end up veering into discussions around conscription”, Labour had “an opportunity to broaden this out and consider how it could incorporate the whole of society in building resilience”.

It also criticised the “alarmingly low” understanding of the public’s awareness of the true state of the UK’s defence posture.

“The mindset of a nation under genuine threat is absent, and there is an urgent need to invest in shaping how people perceive the value of defence,” it warned.

It called on Sir Keir Starmer to develop a plan that “resonates with citizens, emphasising the importance of national security in their daily lives and moving beyond the notion that defence is solely the military’s responsibility”.

In July, Gen Sir Roly Walker, the new head of the Army, used a speech to warn that “nations win wars, not armies”, in comments which reflected that in war the whole of society bands together.

The report, Ukraine: A Wake-up Call, whose authors include Lord Houghton of Richmond, a former head of the Armed Forces, stressed: “Events in Ukraine have demonstrated that defence is not just about physical capabilities, it is also about resilience and the psychological readiness of the nation.”

It added: “Engaging the broader society in defence is crucial. This involves integrating civilian capabilities, fostering community engagement, breaking down barriers between the public and the military, and addressing the emotional aspects of national defence.”

Lord de Mauley, the chairman of the committee, said that the way to strengthen the UK’s defence was “by being clear with the British public about the risks the UK is facing and involving the whole of society in the response”.

He added: “Part of the answer is reinvigorating the Reserves and drawing in non-traditional defence suppliers who may not usually think about getting involved to drive the innovations of the future needed for UK defence.”

The report suggested British civilians adopt the “total defence” mindset as seen in Sweden and Finland, where any discussion of war is seen as a whole society objective and involves all sectors of the government, the economy and civilian population in defence planning.

‘National psyche’

It said: “In both countries, the concept of total defence is well embedded in the national psyche.”

The report referenced how Finland, which has a small regular armed force, can quickly mobilise a large number of troops which includes significant civilian involvement.

As part of its commitment to Nato the British Army is currently committed to being able to field a heavy war-fighting division within a reasonable time, however the report expressed concerns that the army “cannot, as currently constituted” fulfil this contribution.

The UK’s Armed Forces would struggle to support its Nato allies in the Baltics and Eastern Europe with a land force in the event of war with Russia, the report warned.

“This is because our forces’ size and structure has been predicated on the belief that conflicts would be resolved within weeks, rather than years,” it said.

It added that the Ukraine invasion exposed “fundamental weaknesses in both the UK’s and Nato’s military strength”.

“Within the UK, it has raised serious questions regarding the preparedness of Government, society and the defence industrial base to support conventional war fighting at scale,” it said.

“We are underprepared to respond to the heightened global threat environment and, in particular, meet the growing threat from Russia.”

Earlier this month, a National Audit Office report found that Britain’s war fighting ability has been damaged because of the war in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence said that the UK’s military training of Ukrainian soldiers had “constrained” its own ability to train British troops, as it reduced the availability of training facilities on the Army’s estate.

More than 45,000 Ukrainian recruits have taken part in Operation Interflex, the scheme to help Ukraine’s armed forces.

‘Clear-eyed about the threats’

The report also referenced the will-to-fight of both a nation’s armed forces and its civilian population.

It said human aspects can determine the outcome of wars including, “motivation, determination, memory of past victories and defeats, culture, and stamina”.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “This Government is clear-eyed about the threats we face, with the world becoming more volatile and technology changing the nature of warfare. That is why we have committed to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence as soon as possible.

“Our commitment to Nato is unshakeable, and the key principle of the alliance is collective defence.

“The Strategic Defence Review will also make sure our Armed Forces are bolstered and that our country has the capabilities needed to ensure the UK’s resilience for the long term.”