Skip to main content
‘Pre-war’ era propaganda from top brass reveals strategic problems for Britain's rulers
NICK WRIGHT looks at why General Sir Patrick Sanders is plugging conscription in light of Britain's shifting military outlook
Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps, speaks to Chief of the General Staff General Patrick Sanders during a visit to a military training camp in East Anglia in the UK, to view Swedish military personnel delivering training to Ukrainian soldiers as part of the UK-led Operation Interflex, Wednesday, November 29, 2023

THE Establishment is in panic mode after army brass hats warned that the forced recruitment of hundreds of thousands was “essential” for a war against Russia.

Number 10 rushed to say Rishi Sunak did not share the views of army chief General Sir Patrick Sanders and insisted there are no plans to reintroduce conscription.

The general’s speech to a military conference was published by the army's own press operation but an embarrassing clash developed after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) rubbished the soon-to-be-retired army chief views.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Firefighters put out the fire in the ruins of an apartment building following Russia's missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 7, 2026
Features / 8 March 2026
8 March 2026

SEVIM DAGDELEN asks why the European Union is targeting the Swiss academic Jacques Baud, cutting off his access to banking services

A resident looks at his destroyed home following Russian air strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, August 30, 2025
Opinion / 4 September 2025
4 September 2025

While 69 per cent of Ukrainians want negotiated peace, Western leaders are cynically prolonging the war for their own strategic and economic goals, to the immense detriment of Ukraine and Europe, write BOB ORAM and MAGGIE SIMPSON 

President Donald Trump meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the White House, August 18, 2025, in Washington
Features / 22 August 2025
22 August 2025

Washington plays innocent bystander while pouring weapons and intelligence into Ukraine, just as it enables the Gaza genocide — but every US escalation leaves Ukraine weaker than the neutrality deal rejected in 2022, argue MEDEA BENJAMIN and NICOLAS JS DAVIES

Guillaume Périgois
Politics / 14 August 2025
14 August 2025

Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT