Only 6% of Britons would volunteer to fight for their country against imminent invasion

A mere six per cent of Britons would willingly take up arms to fight for their country against a threat of imminent invasion, a new survey has revealed.

Another 17 per cent of respondents admitted they would outright refuse any instruction to defend their own country - even in the face of a direct threat to their homeland.

The poll revealed a damning picture of the nation's deteriorating appetite for military engagement.

Another measly 14 per cent indicated they would be prepared to serve if formally called upon by authorities.

Meanwhile, more than half of those surveyed — 52 per cent — said they would be unable to serve due to age or disability.

Some 53 per cent of respondents expressed doubt the Armed Forces possess sufficient strength to protect the country, with only 38 per cent voicing confidence in the military's ability to keep the nation safe.

Roughly three in 10 people — 29 per cent — considered a full-scale military assault on the UK within the next decade to be a realistic prospect.

However, around 51 per cent deemed such an attack unlikely.

The YouGov research surveyed populations in Poland, Canada, France, Germany, the US and Australia on what they perceive as the gravest threat facing their nations.

Among the countries polled, Poland stood out as the only one where a military attack topped the list of concerns.

British, Canadian and French respondents all claimed climate change was the greatest looming threat facing their country.

In Germany, mass migration was named as the most pressing danger, while Americans singled out political extremism as their foremost concern.

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Over the past six months, pressure has piled onto Britain's defences as the world's geopolitical tensions heat up.

Just yesterday, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting issued a warning to Vladimir Putin after a warship opened fire perilously close to British waters.

The new Defence Secretary dubbed the launching of a live-fire artillery exercise around 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth "performative and irresponsible".

The Neustrashimy, a frigate in Russia’s Baltic fleet, informed the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Tyne it intended to conduct the exercise yesterday.

"It's not the first time that Russia has behaved like this, and frankly, it's the tip of the iceberg of the daily threats that this country faces and our allies face," Mr Streeting fumed.

"Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government and this Prime Minister, our resolve to stand against Russian aggression in Ukraine, but also Russian aggression against all of our allies.

"The commitment that the Prime Minister has given to the defence of our nation is clear, and will be even clearer in the coming months," the new Defence Secretary said.

Mr Streeting ascended to the top job after Dan Jarvis was appointed just six weeks ago by Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Jarvis accepted the position following a coup within the Ministry of Defence over insufficient funding for the Defence Investment Plan to bolster Britain's Armed Forces.

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