Should the UK bring back national service? Take our poll and have your say

Military leaders have quizzed whether Britain should bring back national service amid rising global tensions, war in Europe and fracturing alliances - But what do you think? Have your say in our poll below.

Concerns over the fragile geopolitical situation was evident amid general Sir Roly Walker's warning to 700 Brit troops gathered at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire from across 1st Division, the army's Global Response Division. His stark warning laid plain his view Britain was "going to need you", and that they would need to "consent to sacrifices" amid the fracturing global situation.

He added political leaders would need to prepare civilians with a "frank conversation" about what could happen in the future . Chief of General Staff Sir Roly warned: "You didn’t know this, but our nation is going to need you. There was a time that our nation didn’t want to think of a time when it would need its soldiers to fight in a war.

To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed.

Britain's army is facing an increasingly tense situation in Europe amid concerns Russia could launch an attack on a NATO nation, effectively dragging the UK into a conflict against Moscow. Across the Atlantic there are further headaches as Donald Trump appears to cool on the defensive alliance and repeatedly threatens to annex territories.

Argentina's Javier Milei has also renewed threats against the Falkland Islands, vowing to bring the UK Overseas Territory under the South American nation's control. There are fears the armed forces might not be able to meet the challenge of an increasingly fragile period.

Following major cuts to the MoD that began in 2010, just over 74,000 regular forces personnel are currently serving in the British Army - the lowest number since the Napoleonic Wars. National Service became a brief topic in the 2024 General Election with then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak being interested in bringing back national service.

Peacetime national service in the UK spanned between 1949 and ended in 1960. The final discharge was recorded in May 1963.

Over 2.3 million young British men aged between 17 and 30 served about a year during the national service. Unlike World War 2, national service did not apply to women.

But what do you make of the possibility of national service making a return? Give us yout thoughts below.