Half of Britons unwilling to fight for UK in the event of war, poll finds
An Ipsos poll found that 48 per cent of Britons would not fight for the UK under any circumstances, while 36 per cent said they would take up arms and the rest were unsure. The findings come amid warnings about the risk of Russian action against Nato and recent concerns that the UK should prepare for a possible wartime situation at home.
The poll also found that 51 per cent support higher defence spending, even if it requires borrowing, tax rises or cuts to public services, while 12 per cent favour spending less. However, 44 per cent oppose an increase if it means higher personal taxes or reduced public services, and 37 per cent oppose extra borrowing. Half said the UK should prioritise a close defence relationship with the EU; the survey questioned 1,090 adults between 29 September and 1 October.
- 48% say they would not fight for the UK.
- 51% back higher defence spending.
- Views differ over how to pay for it.
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The UK is a member of Nato, a defence alliance in which an attack on one member is treated as a concern for all. Russia’s war against Ukraine has renewed discussion about the possibility of wider conflict and how prepared countries such as the UK should be.
The government decides how much to spend on the armed forces and how to fund that spending, including through taxes, borrowing or changes to public services. The UK also works with European Union countries on defence, although it is no longer an EU member.
Public views on military service and defence spending matter to debates about national security and government priorities. Poll answers describe people’s stated opinions; they do not establish how people would act in a real conflict.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those willing to fight could argue that defending the UK and its allies protects people, democratic institutions and the country’s ability to determine its own future. They may see military service as a shared civic responsibility, especially given warnings about threats to Nato, and view the poll’s support for higher defence spending as evidence that many people accept the need to prepare.
The case against
Those unwilling to fight could argue that refusing combat is a principled choice, while still supporting the country’s security through other forms of service or contribution. They may question whether war would be justified or effective, and point to the poll’s opposition to higher taxes, borrowing or cuts to public services as evidence that defence priorities involve real trade-offs with people’s welfare.