Do we need a 'Citizen Army' to bolster British troops in case Russia goes to war with NATO?

This week the head of the Army gave a stark warning that British citizens may need to be called up in the event of conflict with Russia.

Warning that an increase in reserve forces 'would not be enough', General Sir Patrick Sanders spoke of the potential threat from Russia who invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Speaking at an armoured vehicle conference, the outgoing army chief said British men and women should be prepared to fight Vladimir Putin’s forces if Russia decides to go to war with NATO.

Gen Sir Patrick Sanders pointed to Britain's allies in eastern and northern Europe "laying the foundations for national mobilisation". According to the Telegraph, the General does not support conscription but believes a "shift" in the British public's mindset is needed in order to get more people to sign up.

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Following the comments, Rishi Sunak said British citizens will not be forced to fight if NATO goes to war with Russia. The Prime Minister ruled out conscription after the head of the Army said Britain should "train and equip" a "Citizen Army" to ready the country for a potential WW3.

As the UK Parliament website puts it, "the strength of the British military during the World Wars was boosted greatly by the conscription of civilians" and "the army reached a peak of four million soldiers in 1918 and 2.9 million in 1945"

During the Second World War, the National Service (Armed Forces) Act made conscription compulsory for all males aged 18 to 41 who had to register for service. Exemptions to the rule included those who were medically unfit to fight, and some