Army Chief Warns Britons Must Consent to Sacrifices for Defence
General Sir Roly Walker, the Chief of the General Staff, told around 700 soldiers at Catterick Garrison that citizens must “consent to sacrifices to prioritise defence and security”. “You didn’t know this, but our nation is going to need you,” he said. At least 1,500 personnel, including British, French and German troops, will travel to Poland next month to rehearse a postwar peacekeeping mission for Ukraine.
Ipsos polling of 1,090 adults found 51% back higher defence spending even if it means extra borrowing, higher taxes or service cuts, yet 48% say there are no circumstances in which they would take up arms for Britain. Some 44% oppose higher spending if their own taxes rise. Lord Ricketts, the former national security adviser, warned that Russian hybrid attacks are “getting more reckless, more dangerous”. RAF jets have reported two near misses with unidentified drones above 10,000ft over the North Sea. John Healey faces a £5 billion gap in planned defence spending ahead of the Budget.