Nearly half of Britons say they would refuse to fight for their country "under any circumstances," according to a new Ipsos survey that suggests patriotism may be waning ahead of VE Day commemorations.
Just 35 per cent of respondents said they would be willing to take up arms in a time of war, while 48 per cent said there were no conditions under which they would go to war for Britain. A further 17 per cent said they were unsure how they would respond.
The survey of more than 1,000 adults comes as armed forces bands prepare for a jubilant procession through central London on Monday, 5 May, to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War. But The Mail on Sunday reports the figures paint a stark contrast with the sense of national duty that defined that era.
Richard Gill, a former British Army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the findings point to a deeper societal issue.
"The fact that so many would refuse to fight for Britain is a symptom of a deeper national malaise. We’ve stopped teaching pride in our country, its history, and its values," he said.
"A nation unsure of itself cannot expect its people to defend it. That must change."
The results showed a significant gender divide: nearly half of men (49 per cent) said they would be willing to fight, compared with just 21 per cent of women.
Young people aged 18 to 34 were the most likely to volunteer, with 42 per cent saying they would fight. But willingness dropped to 28 per cent among 35 to 54-year-olds, over half of whom said they would never take up arms.
The survey also found political differences, with Reform UK supporters the most likely to say they would fight for their country, while Liberal Democrat voters were the least likely.
