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There are concerns over the size of Britain’s military as tensions continue to soar (Image: Getty)
Military service should be introduced for young Britons not in work or education, a former senior Army has suggested. Major General Tim Cross’ comments are likely to trigger further debate around the subject after repeated calls for military service or conscription to counter concerns over Britain’s manpower.
The former logistics officer said he was not calling for conscription, but instead for options to serve in the Armed Forces as part of a national service programme. He said it could help the country realise “the reality of the nature of the world we’re living in” after a warning from ex-NATO chief Lord George Robertson that Britain is unprepared for war due to the “ever-expanding welfare budget”. So what do you think? Should young people on benefits be required to take part in some form of national service? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comments section.
Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Cross said: “I understand there are something like 800,000 youngsters between the ages of about 18 and 25 who are not in work, not in training, not in education.
“We are short of soldiers, sailors and airmen. What are we doing paying these youngsters welfare money when we could be saying to them: ‘You’re going to join the military’?”
He admitted the military would struggle to welcome a significant number of young people on national service, but said: “We can do something and we can begin that process.”
The Army is at its smallest size since the Napoleonic era (Image: Getty)
Latest official figures show between October and December 2025, there were 957,000 people aged 16 to 24 in the UK who were not in employment, education or training.
The Government has insisted it has no plans for military service or conscription, with its focus on developing the professional Armed Forces.
Other NATO nations continue to have conscription programmes, while France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium have all launched or are preparing to launch voluntary military service schemes.
Britain’s military has gradually declined after decades of repeated cuts.
The Army is at its smallest size since the Napoleonic era.
Lord Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary who led last year’s Strategic Defence Review, earlier this week accused Sir Keir Starmer’s government of “corrosive complacency” towards defence.
On Thursday, the Express revealed NATO allies have been left “exasperated” by a UK defence spending impasse.
Funding talks between the Ministry of Defence, Treasury and Downing Street have been described as being at a ‘deadlock’.
Britain has not had national service since 1960.