UK plans to recall 95,000 veterans for military exercise next year
The UK is planning to recall 95,000 veterans for a military exercise next year to test its ability to mobilise in case of war, amid concerns over troop shortages.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The government is planning to recall 95,000 veterans for a major military exercise next year, according to the Armed Forces Minister, Louise Sander-Jones. The exercise is part of a wider operation to test the UK's resilience and comes as Britain prepares for the possibility of being dragged into a conflict with Russia.
The plan would see the age limit for the strategic reserve raised from 55 to 65, prompting some to question whether the so-called "dad's army" could become a "granddad's army". The move is seen as a response to a shortage of army troops, with the government turning to former service personnel to bolster its ranks.
Former British Army spokesperson Major Mike Shearer welcomed the initiative, saying he had been calling for a war footing for years. But he also criticised the government's treatment of veterans, pointing to ongoing legal cases against soldiers who served in Northern Ireland and the Middle East. He argued that the government was pursuing veterans for doing their duty, which made recruitment harder and forced it to rely on "another cheap option".
Outside Parliament, a peaceful motorcycle procession of veterans protested against the pursuit of former service personnel by human rights lawyers. The protest highlighted a growing sense of distrust between the veteran community and the current government, raising questions about whether enough veterans would volunteer for the exercise.
Despite these concerns, Major Shearer insisted that veterans would "rise to the challenge" because that was who they were. The exercise is expected to test the UK's ability to mobilise thousands of reservists quickly in the event of a national emergency.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | GB News |
|---|---|
| Britain is planning a major military exercise next year to test its ability to mobilise thousands of veterans. | |
| The age limit for reservists is being increased from 55 to 65. | |
| The government is considering recalling 95,000 strategic reserves of veterans. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News focused on the government's troop shortage and the irony of recalling veterans while treating them poorly. The tone was critical of the Labour government, with the host mocking the plan as a 'dad's army' and the guest accusing the government of pursuing veterans for doing their duty. The coverage also highlighted a protest outside Parliament and questioned whether veterans would sign up.
- “The government is so short of army troops, it's considering recalling 95,000 strategic reserves of veterans.”
- “With the age increase from 55 to 65, could this dad's army be a granddad's army?”
- “I welcome the Grill to mobilise the veterans as it wants to prepare for war.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.