United Kingdom defense spending support rises despite reluctance to fight

An Ipsos poll conducted between September 29 and October 1 reveals that approximately half of Britons stated there are no circumstances under which they would fight for their country. Only 36% of respondents indicated they would be willing to fight for the United Kingdom, a figure that has remained largely stagnant since April 2025 despite rising geopolitical concerns involving Russia, China, and Iran.

Despite this reluctance toward individual combat, there is significant public support for strengthening national security. The survey found that 51% of respondents support increasing defense spending, nearly double the 28% who supported such a move in June 2022.

Demographic differences were noted in the results: 48% of men said they would fight for their country compared to 40% who would not, while a majority of women stated they would not participate in combat. Hamish Mandel of the Royal United Services Institute noted that while the data raises questions regarding the nation's willingness to sacrifice, it does not necessarily imply an inability to mobilize citizens in the event of a conflict.