Talk of army conscription is ‘nonsense’, says defence minister

Any talk of the UK introducing conscription to the Army if Nato goes to war with Russia is “nonsense”, the armed forces minister has said.

Frontbencher James Heappey said the UK “long had plans” readied for “mobilising volunteers” in the event that Britain does enter a new conflict but stressed that “nobody is thinking” about bringing back conscription.

The remarks come after comments made by General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff (CGS), being too small.