Are we ready for war? Welcome to The i Paper’s opinion series in which our writers tackle a question that, until recently, few had thought to consider.
• Britain is closer to nuclear war than you think. This is how it will unfold• The UK’s plan for civilians in a war is terrifying – you’re on your own• World War 3 is closer than you think. And still Britain is half asleep
Week by week, the world is becoming a more dangerous place. Wars in Europe and the Middle East show no signs of ending any time soon. It’s clear that the UK cannot rely on the old-world order as it once did. We need a government that can keep us all safe, so it’s natural to hear talk of increased defence spending, national resilience and the UK’s readiness to fight, if the time comes.
But there is a gap at the centre of that conversation that has not been addressed properly, even after decades of warnings, advice and human impact.
We’ve seen successive governments treat veteran support as a separate issue from national defence. It’s seen as an afterthought, something charitable organisations, local communities and overstretched public services pick up once the uniform comes off.
