As an ex-army captain, I’d back national service. But conscription? No way...

Phones in the box. Stand by your beds. Pile your plate high at breakfast with whatever food is on offer – you’ll need the energy for 18 hours a day of basic training, warns veteran Mike Crofts

Bringing together people from every corner and community in our society could build bridges at a time when they are sorely needed (Getty)

A citizens’ army is in the news after General Sir Patrick Sanders said that the British army must expand, following years of personnel and financial cuts. But the government would have a tough task forcing people to the parade ground, especially in light of the current recruitment struggles.

Seeking to roll back on the cuts that have been forced on the army, with regular forces at 100,000 in 2010 shrinking to fewer than 76,000 today, Sanders is on record as saying recent cuts [from the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review and the 2021 Defence in a Competitive Age report] were a “mistake”.