𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Britain is drawing up plans for World War 3, including a “mass mobilisation” of civilians. The Ministry of Defence has no plans to bring in conscription “at this time”, but believes tens of thousands of civilian volunteers will be needed to protect the UK if full-blown war with Russia or another threat breaks out.

The plan, known as Fortitude, was revealed by army chiefs in evidence to a House of Commons inquiry, the i newspaper reports. Lt Gen Paul Griffiths, Commander, Standing Joint Command at the British armed forces, said the Government is preparing to strengthen the protection of UK military bases, energy plants and major transport hubs against attack.

He said: “This is our mass mobilisation, and how we would go ahead with increasing the size of the military workforce and the civilian volunteers to support us in time of crisis and conflict.

“We use the joint military commands at the very bottom of the organisation to connect to society, generate the inclination to serve, and then pull them in as required.

“That plan is on its way now … how we could generate mass through the strategic reserve.”

Damian Johnson, the director of homeland security at the Ministry of Defence, said the Government was “updating our plans, and other departments across Government have been directed to do the same”.

And next year the UK will take part in a NATO wargame exercise called Steadfast Defender, which will be the “largest mobilisation exercise since the Cold War”.