If Britain gets involved in war, how many Britons are willing to pick up weapons and defend their country?
According to a report by the British newspaper The Independent on October 14, a latest survey conducted by the polling agency Ipsos revealed that 48% of British respondents said they would never pick up weapons to fight for Britain, regardless of the circumstances. Only 36% of respondents said they would be willing to fight for their country under certain conditions, while the rest expressed uncertainty.
It is noteworthy that although nearly half of Britons are unwilling to personally go to battle, 51% of people support the government’s decision to increase defense spending, which represents a 6 percentage point increase compared to June this year.
This survey was conducted from September 29th to October 1st, involving a total of 1,090 British adults aged between 18 and 75. The results of the survey come at a time when the security situation in Europe remains tense, and the British government continues to emphasize the necessity of strengthening military capabilities.
According to the Independent, NATO's Supreme Commander Europe and American General Alexius Greenfield recently stated that NATO is ready to engage immediately in case of an attack. At the same time, European officials are concerned that Russia may test NATO's defensive capabilities through secret operations or limited military actions.
However, the concerns of the British public about the risks of war did not fully translate into a desire to participate in combat personally.
The Ipsos survey also revealed another contradiction in British society regarding defense spending: while most respondents support an increase in military spending, their support decreases significantly when it comes to personal economic interests.
Surveys show that if increasing defense spending means raising individual taxes, 44% of respondents oppose it. Similarly, 44% oppose any cuts to public service expenditures when defense spending is increased. Additionally, 41% of respondents stated that they do not want to cut any public service budgets in order to increase military spending.
In contrast, if increasing military spending creates job opportunities, the support rate reaches 75%; if the funds are used to build key civilian infrastructure such as energy and transportation facilities, the support rate is 68%.
Regarding the specific directions for defense investment, cybersecurity has become a field that British citizens are most concerned about. 45% of respondents ranked it as one of their priorities, followed by intelligence and surveillance capabilities, as well as equipment such as the air force and drones.
The attitudes of young people in the UK have also attracted attention.
On the 14th, The Independent also published an article about the willingness of the British Generation Z to participate in wars. The author, Thomas Hohn, interviewed several people of this generation and found that they generally hold a cautious or even resistant attitude towards participating in wars.
Some young people say they do not want to pay with their lives for a war they do not agree with; others link this attitude to issues such as housing, employment, education, and trust in government.
A young engineer working in the defense industry said that although he recognizes the opportunities for freedom and development offered by the UK, he does not feel that he has a strong cultural attachment to the UK enough to be willing to sacrifice his life for it.
However, this does not mean that young people reject any form of defense efforts.
According to an interview with The Independent, some respondents made a clear distinction between Britain’s active participation in overseas military operations and the direct attacks against its territory. If Britain were subjected to unjust invasions, they might be more willing to take part in defense efforts.
Research scientist Hamish Moundell from the Royal United Services Institute also pointed out that comparing the UK with European countries that have conscription systems may overlook the different security challenges faced by various nations. As an island nation, the UK does not face the same direct land invasion threats as countries bordering Russia.
He believes that the UK may need to prioritize investments in anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, air superiority, nuclear deterrence, and advanced military technology, rather than simply expanding the scope of conscription.
Mondel also pointed out that the challenges faced in military mobilization include not only whether the population is willing to enlist, but also whether the military has sufficient training and acceptance capabilities. He gave an example: last year, the British Army reserves received approximately 30,000 applications, but only about 1,500 people were ultimately accepted.
It is worth noting that in this survey by Pew Research, 48% of respondents said they would absolutely refuse to participate in wars, which is consistent with the results of the survey conducted in April 2025. This indicates that, despite the changing security situation in Europe, there has been no significant shift in the British public's attitude towards direct involvement in wars.
According to Caroline Pascale, Director of Research at IPSOS UK, the latest survey indicates that while the British public is aware of the pressures facing national security, there is still a clear divide in society regarding how to bear the costs associated with increased defense spending.
For the British government, finding a balance between enhancing military capabilities, maintaining public services, and responding to the economic pressures on the population is becoming a real challenge faced by defense policy.
