This lack of willingness to serve coincides with growing public support for military investment, with 51% now backing an increase in defense spending compared with 28% in 2022. The UK is currently preparing to allocate billions more to the sector as it aims to raise core defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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48% of Britons Refuse to Fight Despite UK's 3.5% GDP Target
Geopolitics5 days ago
The British public's commitment to military service remains split according to a la l'Ipsos survey, which shows 48% of adults would refuse to fight for their country under any circumstances. Only 36% of respondents indicated they would be willing to serve, and the sentiment is most pronounced among those aged 35 to 54, where 54% would never take up arms for Britain. These figures have remained largely unchanged since April 2025.
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