No10 steps in after Army head warns conscription could be needed to boost numbers

Rishi Sunak has said Brits 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 land war.

In a speech on Wednesday, General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff (CGS), pointed to allies in eastern and northern Europe “laying the foundations for national mobilisation”.

The military top brass said increasing Army numbers in preparation for a potential conflict would need to be a “whole-of-nation undertaking”.

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The comments, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, are being read as a warning that British men and women should be ready for a call-up to the armed forces if Nato goes to war with Russia.

It comes after Defence Secretary Grant Shapps in a speech last week said the world is “moving from a post-war to pre-war world” and the UK must ensure its “entire defence ecosystem is ready” to defend its homeland.

But Downing Street ruled out any move towards a conscription model, saying that Army service would remain voluntary.

Asked if Mr Sunak could rule out conscription, his spokesman said: "There is no suggestion of that. The Government has no intention to follow through with that.

“The British military has a proud tradition of being a voluntary force. There are no plans to change that.”

The No 10 official said “hypothetical scenarios” about potential future conflicts were “not helpful”.

Wednesday’s comments by Sir Patrick, made