Exclusive: UK doesn't need voluntary military service, insists Defence Secretary

The UK does not need to follow France and Germany's push for voluntary service, the Defence Secretary has insisted.

Instead, John Healey said the focus should be on a well-equipped professional force.

He told BFBS Forces News: "My judgement is we don't need to do that. We've got a great professional [Armed] Forces."

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France and Germany take the lead

He added: "Our job now is to make sure that they are well equipped, better able and ready to war-fight and play a bigger part as part of Nato to deter adversaries in the future."

Nato allies France and Germany are looking to reintroduce military service amid the threat from Russia.

French president Emmanuel Macron announced that his country would be restoring military service on a voluntary basis from next summer.

The new "national service" will be brought in gradually, mainly for 18 and 19-year-olds, who will receive at least €800 (£700) a month.

Other candidates will be aged up to 25 and have specific skills, such as engineers.

France's armed forces chief of staff sparked recent uproar by warning that France must be ready "to lose its children", adding that Russia is "preparing for a confrontation by 2030 with our countries".

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, has since endorsed the views of his "good friend" General Fabien Mandon.

Troops on the ground, jets in the air

Following the French decision, the German parliament also approved legislation to reintroduce voluntary military service.

All 18-year-olds in Germany will be sent a request in January asking if they are interested and willing to join the country's army. The form will be mandatory for men and voluntary for women.

Defence minister Boris Pistorius told German MPs "our allies are looking at Germany" and argued that the country had become a "pacesetter for defence in Europe".

Mr Healey's comments on voluntary military service came the same week as a meeting between the 50-nation strong Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which he co-chaired.

During the meeting, he said readiness levels were increasing, adding: "I continue to direct funding to prepare our UK troops and Armed Forces so that we are ready to deploy when peace comes with troops on the ground and jets in the air."

A post-war Ukraine

It's suggested a European-led "multinational force Ukraine" would be made up from nations within the Coalition of the Willing and supported by the US, helping to regenerate Ukraine's forces.

The Coalition of the Willing is a UK and France-led effort of over 30 countries to defend any peace deal that is eventually agreed in Ukraine and support Ukraine with military and financial aid.

Mr Healey said the war in Ukraine had reached a "major moment" and pressure on Vladimir Putin must be kept up.

Despite announcing core defence spending would go up to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, the Government is yet to publish its Defence Investment Plan.

Replacing the previous plan, it's thought the new one may provide further details of the capabilities - and numbers - the MOD intends to procure and support over the next decade to meet its objectives.

Mr Healey told BFBS Forces News: "We're working flat out towards the end of the year for that, and we'll post that as soon as we can."

Sons and daughters

The comments came the same week the head of the Armed Forces warned the UK's sons and daughters need to be prepared to fight as the threat from Russia grows.

ACM Sir Rich said: "Sons and daughters, colleagues, veterans will all have a part to play. To build. To serve. And if necessary, to fight.

"And more families will know what sacrifice for our nation means."