48% of Britain's would refuse to fight for their country

[cakeorwine]

So a new headline today

Daily Telegraph
Half of Britons would refuse to fight for their country

Half of Britons say there are no circumstances in which they would go to war for their country, a poll has found.

While the pollster Ipsos found strong backing for increased defence spending, some 48 per cent said there was no situation in which they would take up arms.

One in two Britons would never fight for their country | Politics | News | Express.co.uk

It was not that easy to find the data set but I've linked it below and shown the data from the question

Original data here

Despite rising support for increasing defence spending, half of Britons say there are no circumstances under which they would take up arms for Britain | Ipsos

War-trends-final-weighted

Would be interested to hear your opinion on the survey results

As would Sir Humphrey

Most people wouldn’t in reality I bet - like people are out for themselves and only care about themselves and their family - I would do anything to stay with my family and keep them safe - and I wouldn’t be risking my life or husbands life fighting in a bloody war - most people wouldn’t try to leave/get their family to safety and be together.

Most of the country haven’t even been invited to do that poll - I’ve never heard of it until now! - so the figures aren’t accurate as they haven’t done a poll right across the uk

The women skew this data. They ask women too who have kids to look after and aren’t usually expected to fight. It was only 40% of men.

Where would you go? Most of us don't have dual nationality.

I probably wouldn’t tbh

They will be interred

France or Ireland, have family in both

Suddenly, a lot of dual nationals would be telling us that they are not as British as they have been telling us up until now.

Finnish women can indeed volunteer for national service. Only 5% do. You implied that there's a link between feeling your country is worth defending and national service. If so, what does that suggest about the 95% of Finnish women who can't be arsed?

National service applied to women, in World War 2, albeit non-combatant roles. There will be plenty for women to do in WW3.

Off you go traitor.

Who commissioned the poll? @cakeorwine Could you tell me please, thanks.

I can't cope with poring through those links to find out.

The government treats its people badly and goes to war for unclear and often corrupt reasons - that’s why people don’t want to say they’ll fight for their country. Most of us would sign up if Britain was actually invaded but that’s a very different thing to what people are usually asked to fight for. Plus - most people who judge others would never dream they would be asked to serve themselves. It’s usually the poor being asked to fight to defend the interests of the rich.

And articles like this being published just makes our country even more of an easy target.

I wouldn’t want any of my kids (presume I’m too old) to fight and be fodder in a war that was started by someone like DT jus because he enjoys willy waving!

I have zero interest in 'fighting for my country'.
I'd join the revolution, but I would not do any military or government led wars. I'd rather kms

I find it quite distasteful how we're so against the death penalty, even for murderers, yet expect ordinary people to go to war, risk being killed or suffer lifelong trauma. Then complain about the lack of willingness to fight and suggest conscription. So the government can't sentence a murderer to death, but it can force someone to kill or potentially be killed? Takes some mental gymnastics to me.

My Nan was a fire watcher with the ARP. She had to report any fires in her area. She didn't have to kill anyone, but she might have helped save a few lives. Mum said Nan did it because you got a telephone, which was a luxury back then.

Data tables and demographics available in the OP

Here is the key link

https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/rising-support-increasing-defence-spending

IPSOS commissioned it
It has more data re defence etc

Nearly 1 in 2 Britons (48%) state there are no circumstances where they would be willing to take up arms and go to war for Britain, compared to 36% who say there are circumstances where they would, in line with what was seen in April 2025.

As I said, can people think of a different question that would get a higher response?

But I think just a few people are reading my updates. Which is fascinating

Exactly - we've lost many in Afghanistan and our ally USA who got us into that war then said our forces had it easy - till back tracking. I'm not sure what the point of that one was.

If unlikely event someone invades mainland britain you'd get a more wanting to fight.

Russian threat to us is like Iran's - sponsored terrorism in it's many forms.

The worlds a more complex place at minute and governments want to increase defence spending so give options and deterrants - just when national debts are high, taxes high and we have an aging population - it's a tough sell.

Presumably many of them are happy to take benefits from the UK?

I meant race/religion and class indicators such as employed/retired/homeowner etc.They do actually collect that data when you complete the questionnaires.

If it came to it, it wouldn’t be a choice people were free to make.

The Govt will try carrots first. Sign up for 2 years and we will write off your student debt. Sign up and your family will be first in line for social housing etc. Later young people will be called up. There will be alternatives for those who don't want to/can't fight. Care home work etc. Incarceration in work camps for total refusers.