The UK’s current stance on conscription has been clarified following the White House’s refusal to dismiss plans for a Vietnam-style military draft in the US.

When questioned last night about whether Donald Trump would deploy troops in Iran and initiate a military draft, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated: “It is not part of the current plan right now but the president again wisely keeps his options on the table.”

Meanwhile, Croatia became the latest nation this week to summon young people for compulsory military service – whilst in Germany, thousands of teenagers have boycotted school over a mandatory fitness test for 18 year old males that critics argue is a precursor to conscription.

However, in Britain, the government has made it clear that there are no intentions to reintroduce any form of conscription or National Service, which was abolished back in the 1960s.

In December, Defence Secretary John Healey asserted that the UK “does not need” to reintroduce such a scheme, arguing that funds would be better utilised ensuring the country has “great professional forces” after years of Tory defence cuts.

Nevertheless, some experts continue to support the concept of some form of incentivised military service – including one who suggested today that young individuals should have their tuition fees waived if they enlist.

Anthony Glees, a professor at the University of Buckingham and former director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies, said: “I’m very much in favour of it. We need to deter Putin from a conventional war just as we’ve deterred him from a nuclear one. That means troops as well as hardware and that of course means we need to spend, massively.

“I’ve argued in the past that to get our young to enlist to defend us they do need an inducement to sit alongside patriotism. In WW2 troops were encouraged by the prospect of the NHS and homes for heroes if they secured victory.

“Well, we have the NHS so let’s offer homes, free further and higher education, cancelling student debt. I’d even close 50% of our unis to help fund all this.”

During the Second World War, Britain conscripted all men aged 18 to 41, with exemptions given to those who were medically unfit, or worked in crucial industries like baking, farming, and medicine.

After the war, The Ministry of Defence continued to call up men aged 18-30 to do National Service, a period of compulsory training in the armed forces that lasted between 18 months and two years. It involved rigorous basic training known as ‘square-bashing’, a small stipend, and in some cases, deployments abroad in Germany, Malaya, and Korea.

The call-up for National Service officially ended on December 31, 1960, with the last personnel discharged in May 1963.

In the lead-up to the 2024 General Election, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced widespread criticism for what many described as a ‘hasty’ manifesto pledge to bring back mandatory national service in Britain, which would have required a 12-month full-time military placement or weekend volunteering in community roles.

He lost the election, and his proposals have not been reconsidered by the current Labour government.