UK Public Fears War Within Five Years, Ex-Commander Urges Resilience
A striking new poll has uncovered deep-seated anxieties among the British public, with 40% of people in the UK believing the country will be at war within the next five years. More than two-thirds of respondents fear they would be unable to cope in a conflict, highlighting a significant crisis in national confidence.
Poll Reveals Widespread Concerns Over War and Preparedness
The survey, conducted by policy and research consultancy Public First, also found that over half of those questioned feel Britain is poorly prepared for war. This data was released to coincide with the launch of a private initiative aimed at bolstering national resilience. The findings signal a shift in public perception, with 57% of people now regarding the United States as a threat, following Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China.
Only 42% of respondents indicated they would feel compelled to act if Britain was threatened, underscoring a potential gap in public engagement with defence issues. The poll, which did not specify the number of participants, was presented today to raise awareness about threats and resilience.
Private Initiative Aims to Strengthen National Resilience
Lady Olga Maitland, founder of the organisation called the Resilience Imperative, announced a non-partisan, independently funded national campaign. "This will be a national campaign, non-partisan and independently funded, working with a coalition of organisations across all sectors of society," she said. "We aim to inform policy debate and reinforce resolve as a cornerstone of national defence."
The Resilience Imperative is a small, donor-funded outfit focusing on helping the UK strengthen its resilience to attacks below the threshold of conventional war, such as cyber hacks and disinformation operations. This initiative reflects an emerging awareness among the population about reviving the kind of national resilience that was common during the Cold War.
Ex-Commander Calls for Everyday Resilience
General Sir Richard Barrons, a former top military commander and co-author of a major government defence review last year, is supporting the initiative. He emphasised the urgency of the situation: "Now is the time for every citizen, enterprise and institution, including government, to make resilience an everyday part of how we think and act."
Barrons warned that public awareness and engagement remain low, with resilience often treated as a technical issue rather than a national priority. "Doing so keeps us safer when events turn against us and restores a key foundation of credible deterrence in the face of those who would harm us," he added.
Government Plans for a Modern National Defence Plan
In related developments, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the head of the armed forces, stated in January that the government is committed to producing a "national defence plan." This modern version of the historical Government War Book, which was maintained until the turn of the century, aims to coordinate the entire country's transition from peace to war.
Sir Richard told MPs that work on the new plan is led by the Cabinet Office, with the military component to be finalised this year by the Ministry of Defence. The original War Book, drawn up during the First World War, covered plans for armed forces, hospitals, police, industry, schools, and even art galleries, but was shelved after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Sky News first revealed the absence of a modern national defence plan two years ago, prompting this renewed governmental effort. The push for resilience comes amid ongoing concerns, such as safety incidents involving the Army's Ajax military vehicle last year and broader threats like those posed by Iran, which has been described as a "grave" threat to the UK.
