Twenty-two per cent of Britons under 35 regard a willingness to serve in the military at a time of need as highly important, against 45 per cent of those aged 55 and over, according to the British Social Attitudes survey.
Respondents to the 2025 survey rated the importance of being “willing to serve in the military at a time of need” on a scale of one to seven. Nearly a third, 32 per cent, gave a six or seven, and 49 per cent gave five or above.
The share giving a one or two fell from 23 per cent in 2023 to 15 per cent, and among those able to answer, 39 per cent now rate willingness to serve as highly important, against 32 per cent in 2023, which the National Centre for Social Research says is statistically significant. Among older people, only 8 per cent say it is of little or no importance, but among younger and middle-aged Britons those who see it as highly important are almost matched by those who see it as unimportant.
The report says: “The obvious policy challenge lies in the fact that of course it is younger Britons, not their elders, who would be required to serve in the military, should Britain become involved in an active conflict.”
Forty-nine per cent of Reform UK and 48 per cent of Conservative supporters rate willingness to serve as highly important, against 23 per cent of Labour, 26 per cent of Liberal Democrat and 21 per cent of Green supporters, and 34 per cent of Greens call it of little or no importance. Of those who want much more defence spending, 57 per cent say willingness to serve is highly important, while 53 per cent of those wanting much less say it is of little or no importance. People with personal connections to the armed forces are more likely to see it as important, as are those with a strong interest in politics, at 36 per cent against 15 per cent of those with little or none. Under-35s are also the least likely age group to back higher defence spending, at 30 per cent, and their support is three points lower than in 2016.
Sophia Gaston, the report’s author, said: “The post-Cold War peace that endured for so many years no longer shapes the country’s worldview. War in Europe, instability in the Middle East, strategic competition with China and doubts about American leadership have led to a psychological shift in Britain, putting foreign policy and national security at the heart of the collective consciousness.”
The 2025 survey drew on 4,656 interviews between 26 August and 6 October 2025. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff, said last December that there are no plans for conscription and that the priority is voluntary growth of the regular and reserve forces, though he would not predict beyond the next ten years. The Armed Forces Bill would extend recall liability for former personnel to age 65 and allow reservists to be recalled for warlike preparations, with a separate Defence Readiness Bill planned later this Parliament.
