UK would be a pushover if Putin invaded

[Snoopinator]

AIBU to think the UK population would be too busy fretting about rude receptionists, grousing about trans issues and spying on their possible benefit-fraudster neighbours to put up any meaningful resistance to a Russian invasion? It's hard to imagine people coming together in any significant degree.

sashagabadon · Today 10:45
People would definitely come together. Rich people would bugger off though just like they fled london during covid!“

They didn’t during both WWs. Young, privileged officers very much led from the front, many losing their lives.

With going by some threads on here could you imagine the threads,the day it happened?

Aibu my child has a swimming test now I have to deal with Putin who can I complain too?

My partner is going off to deal with Putin but I need him to empty the dishwasher is this a red flag?

Agree with everything you stated.

Courage and bravery on WW level is long, long gone.

Most who built the British Empire (now descendants) moved/spread out over the world to the colonies, former and present. The UK is made up mainly of snowflakes, the rest will/cannot stand up to the absurdities we are living through.

If its forced service men and woman should be eligible.

Remember on the feminist board when they were arguing that woman in in Ukraine should equally be made to stay behind and fight for their country...

Oh wait that didnt happen.

YABU

How many is "several" ?
How valid is your sample?

YABU

There are more people in the UK than those that frequent MN threads. Get out a bit more.

Five, ranging from Northern Europe to the Middle East.

I get out a lot, which doesn't reassure me quite frankly.

I think you're right. Look at how our "show of national unity" went over Covid. Lasted about two weeks and then everyone was squabbling over outdoor exercise and saying they would never wear a mask no matter how many lives it might save.

😄😄😄

I find it hard to imagine the government would be willing or able to arm the public if there was a danger of invasion. The Russian armed forces are pretty shit but I think even they could defeat a country with a population armed with kitchen knives gaffertaped to broom handles or baseball bats with nails hammered into them. We need guns and ammunition and they should be issued sooner rather than later so that people can be trained to use them safely.

If the government had any sense (I know, I know) they'd relax the gun laws ASAP so that at least people could buy their own guns ahead of the invasion. That way more of us would be ready so when the invasion starts a lot of people would be armed and not reliant on government issued weapons.

As it is we're sitting ducks, protected only by the fact we're more valuable as a target for nuclear weapons than for the purposes of invasion.

I imagine most on mumsnet would enjoy it tbh… based on typical views expressed about certain issues.

So the UK is significantly worse than 5 countries in terms of social unity.

It's a real shame that the only people you know are useless according to you. I wonder why you bother with them?

I assume that at the point of invasion, we would rely on our military services to defend us and not Brenda at no 32, who's apparently busy reporting Sandra at no 34 for benefit fraud.

Well there were cross country coordinated matches against lock down. There has been riots and demonstrations on issues that matter. Regardless of opinion there have been recent demonstrations outside hotels. Liverpool comes out to stop right wing matches through our city etc etc etc. Liverpool wouldn't fall easily.

SNP would let them in through Scotland if they were told they’d get independence

People might have less of an issue with the so called 'feral teenagers' if this happened. I teach and can immediately think of a good crew of year 11s I could pull together who'd be useful. They might not be the best at making every teacher's life easy but I would definitely want them as my squad if this happened lol.

Oh, me too, @swallowedAfly - some of my yr11s would be very useful in a brawl.

What have I read!!! Run along back to la la land. Of course people would come together and fight.

Really good point!
DH says they’d have to conscript both men and woman or say each household sends one person and you get to pick male or female who goes.

No, I'm just intrigued by the British approach to national unity

Are you sure you aren't confusing social displays of conformity with unity? We don't tend to be authoritarian and don't expect everyone to conform to a hive mind. We're good at taking the piss out of authorities so they don't get too big for their boots.
We're good at is putting everything to one side and sticking together in the face of a bigger threat. Once that's gone we'll go back to taking the piss out of each other.

There's nothing like an existential threat to draw people together so I would strongly expect an invasion to cause the British people to put aside their differences and fight together (whether or not the fighting would go well is a different matter). An example of this is Finland, the country was split in two by a bloody civil war but the invasion of the Russians in the Winter War drew the country together.

@Simonjt
We’d have transphobes trotting out “at least he knows what a woman is” while they swooned over Putin .

Putin is a homophobic Nationalist; thanks for making it clear what you think of lesbians and other women wanting to retain sex based rights.

Yep.

I've seen other nationalities think a fight is about to break out when Brits are having a few drinks round a pool table we like our piss taking so well.

I travelled a lot when younger and there's no others on a part with Brits and Irish for this. I've also lived in a country where the big displays of conformity are enforced but massive divisions are palpable if you eyes to see. Middle East here too.