Most young Britons willing to do a year of national service

The majority of young adults in Britain would be willing to take part in some form of national service, according to research backed by MPs with military experience. Six in ten 18 to 24-year-olds said they would be keen to participate in a year-long, paid programme with charities, community organisations, emergency services or the armed forces. They were among 2,176 adults surveyed across the UK by the research firm Focaldata. Most commented 1 Three in ten of super-rich consider leaving Britain over tax fears Companies & Markets 630 comments 2 Pope Leo walking and eating after lung cancer operation Europe 299 comments 3 Scaling up: the best British fish to eat sustainably revealed Environment 107 comments 4 Sculpted stags in the garden — and other news in pictures Photography 127 comments 5 New dinosaur related to T rex emerges from drawer after 100 years Science 69 comments The research is being promoted by Al Carns, Labour’s former armed forces minister, and Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative shadow foreign secretary, who called for the government to “build routes” to a programme that would improve national resilience in times of crisis. Top stories 1 Shopkeeper in Kelly Clarkson row ‘fears for safety’ as CCTV released US news 2 Why corporate America is anxious about the midterms Companies & Markets 3 Ukraine says Elon Musk’s Starlink imposed curbs without warning Russia-Ukraine war 4 US inflation hotter than expected as Iran war stokes fuel costs Economics The independent National Preparedness Commission warned last year: “We are probably closer to widespread war than we have been for over 60 years and at the same time the consequences of climate change and associated extreme weather events are becoming ever-more apparent.” Support among survey respondents remained high when a practical offer was spelt out. Participants were told that the service would involve full-time work for a year and they would be paid the real living wage. They would also have training and a mentor and finish with a recognised qualification that would be attractive to employers. Advertisement Roles helping children and young adults in schools, in civic and community service, or in emergency preparedness and resilience work had the strongest support, from about 75 per cent of respondents. Top stories 1 Budget 2026 predictions: when is it and what could be announced? Economics 2 Forget the property ladder, there’s a new route to wealth Saving & Investing A paid year working with a charity or in the public sector drew 72 per cent support, followed by environmental and conservation projects with 71 per cent and service in the armed forces reserves at 60 per cent. Conservation work was also popular Getty images Carns, a Royal Marines reserve officer and special forces veteran , said that joining up as a teenager had taught him that national resilience “comes from people who are ready to step up”. He said: “Some wear a uniform, but many never will. They are the young people who help in a flood, support a struggling school or keep a community going in a crisis. This poll shows they are willing, and that employers will value it.” Older participants in the survey, aged 25 and over, believed that younger generations saw national service as an obligation rather than an opportunity. But the research found that the reverse was true: 53 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds described it as an opportunity that benefits them and others. Overall, 71 per cent of respondents said they thought that such a programme would make Britain stronger. Advertisement Tugendhat , who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an army reservist, said: “Some of the finest soldiers I knew were barely out of their teens. We spend too long talking about young people and not long enough listening to them. Ask them, and most see serving their community as an opportunity rather than a chore. “Al Carns and I sit on opposite sides of the House, but on this we agree: mandatory service should not necessarily be seen as the default option, [and] giving young people the chance to serve belongs to no single party.” Allies including Finland, Sweden and Latvia have active conscription programmes, which they credit for increasing social cohesion and providing valuable skills to their young populations. As the threat from Russia grows, other nations are heading in the same direction. Last year Poland announced plans to make all men undergo military training , and France and Germany are taking cautious steps to establish voluntary military service programmes. However, in Britain the mere mention of conscription often creates controversy. Separate research has shown that Finland’s population has by far the highest willingness in Europe to fight for their country, at more than 80 per cent, while Britain lags behind on 35 per cent. Advertisement Offering a programme not limited to military service is more palatable to the British public, and seen as a step towards establishing a “whole of society’’ approach to national resilience as the world becomes more dangerous. Lack of ‘soft skills’ blamed for fuelling youth unemployment crisis The survey was commissioned by With Honor, a Washington-based organisation that fights against polarisation in politics, to coincide with the British publication of a book by its chief executive, Rye Barcott. The book, Courage Can Save Us , advocates for co-operation between politicians across the political spectrum in the national interest. The book launch on Wednesday was attended by Sir Tony Radakin , former head of the armed forces, who told guests during a panel discussion that politicians should “step above party politics” in the name of national security. He described the notion of service as “being so much more than self”, adding that the “philosophy of stoicism” could be incorporated into daily life and used “to keep our nation safe and enhance our prosperity”. Advertisement Barcott said he was surprised by the reaction of young people to the idea of a national programme. “They are more open to a year of service than older people assume, and more practical about it,” he said. “They want to earn, learn and come out with something they can use. Britain will decide what any programme should look like.”