A leading historian and author has warned any UK war register would focus on one group if World War 3 were to break out. Ahead of the US Midterm Elections tensions in the region are ratcheting up. Iran rejected a request from US Vice President JD Vance for peace talks, Senator Chris Murphy claimed devastating war plans have been leaked.
What British involvement would look like in such a global conflict is not yet known, but some have suggested specific measures may be introduced to encourage Britons to help out. Outside of conscription, where people are mandated to join the armed forces, one expert has endorsed another measure suggested by the Liberal Democrats.
The idea proposed by the third-biggest party in the House of Commons was a war register – a pre-organised database of citizens who have formally indicated their willingness to help support the nation during a military attack. It’s a list of people who have volunteered to help.
Following the suggestion made by the Liberal Demcorats, author and historian David Swift told us: “If there was something explicit and obvious, like ground troops or airstrikes against a NATO country, then we would see a serious response and new sense of urgency from the British government, and something like the war register, which I think a lot of people would sign up for.
“I think it could be a useful way of mobilising people for non-military tasks, although presumably it would largely recruit from more middle-class people, as with those offering refuge to Ukrainians, etc. In fact, it’s no coincidence the Lib Dems are pushing this.”
However, should a war register fail and/or the UK decide to introduce conscription, which was abandoned in 1963, Dr Swift said people in one industry could be exempt whilst another might be more likely to be targeted than others.
Mr Swift added: “Since there is such an urgent need to rebuild Britain’s defence industries and industrial capacity, I would expect that people in these important occupations would be exempt.
“Or even that people could be ‘conscripted’ into working in these industries. Military conscription would target unemployed graduates – this would be very popular with lots of people.”
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