Will conscription ever happen in the UK?
The News Agents
Global
4.1 • 5.4K Ratings
🗓️ 25 January 2024
⏱️ 46 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The head of the army - General Sir Patrick Sanders - has said the UK needs to train and equip a citizen army to be on the front door for any future war with Russia.
The PM has hastily ruled out conscription but on today's episode, we consider whether the era of peace is over. And ask what we are prepared to do if the threats deepen.
Later, election denier Trump has talked up a purge of bureaucrats and security forces. Are we happy to nod Trump through as he advocates a police state? And why are senior politicians here cheering him on?
Editor: Tom Hughes
Senior Producer: Gabriel Radus
Producer: Laura FitzPatrick
Social Media Editor: Georgia Foxwell
Video Production: Shane Fennelly & Arvind Badewal
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Newsagents podcast is brought to you by HSBC UK, opening up a world of opportunity. |
| 0:09.3 | This is a global player original podcast. |
| 0:17.6 | Meanwhile, the call to national service has gone forth. |
| 0:22.6 | The postman is delivering the handbook at your door, and perhaps you're standing there wondering what you can do. |
| 0:25.6 | Well, if you're a young man, you can join the Air Force. |
| 0:28.6 | Darling, Soby, we must say goodbye to Lewis. |
| 0:32.6 | Don't worry, my darling. He'll be back soon. |
| 0:35.6 | He's going his bit for the country, for king and country. |
| 0:39.3 | Why do you sound German? |
| 0:41.7 | Something like that. So the question is, why are we taking you back to news real times? |
| 0:46.9 | Well, because it seems deep breath, checks notes, that our prime minister has been forced to rule out the conscription of British civilians as the threat of a war with Russia rises. |
| 1:04.8 | There is a feeling in the armed forces that the threat level has increased to such an extent around the world, Middle East, Ukraine, |
| 1:13.7 | China, that Britain is sleepwalking and complacent and not aware of the dangers that are out there. |
| 1:21.6 | And some people are saying, this is the 1930s all again, and maybe the first shots of the Third World War have already been fired, |
| 1:30.5 | and it's time we shook ourselves out of that complacency and got ready for what might be coming. |
| 1:36.9 | It's a scary prospect. Welcome to the newsagents. |
| 1:43.6 | The Newsagents. The News Agents. |
| 1:45.9 | It's John. |
| 1:46.9 | It's Emily. |
| 1:47.4 | It's private good all. |
| 1:48.9 | And the reason I think that we are taking this so lightly and we are joking about it is because the alternative is kind of too difficult to think about. |
| 1:57.6 | And I have to actually admit that I was sent this article about, you know, |
... |
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