Government minister addresses whether they will introduce national service for 18-year-olds

It comes as peace talks accelerate

Communities minister Alex Norris was challenged on the possibility of forcing 18 year olds into the military.

It comes after the Prime Minister said he was prepared to put British 'boots on the ground and planes in the air' to secure peace in Ukraine.

Norris referred to Rishi Sunak's national service proposal during the election campaign, which came under fierce criticism.

The former Tory PM was ridiculed for his 'teenage Dad's Army' plan to force 18 year olds into the military or voluntary sector.

However, Norris told Times Radio: "I think that was a decision for the UK people at the general election.

"I didn't discern much enthusiasm for that. What we do need to have is a much stronger military. That's why we've made the very significant commitments we made there on our defence spending."

However, just last week, General Sir Richard Shirreff, a former NATO commander and retired senior British Army officer, called for the UK to consider conscripting 30,000 Brits a year to boost its depleted Armed Forces.

It followed Lord Dannatt, the former head of the Army, warning that the UK military is 'so run down' it could not lead any peacekeeping mission in Ukraine in the future. 

He told the BBC that up to 40,000 UK troops would be needed and 'we just haven't got that number available'.

Armed forces minister Luke Pollard admitted the armed forces has been 'hollowed out' but praised the PM's decision to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national income by 2027.

He said the Strategic Defence Review, which is due out in the spring, will set out how the extra cash will be spent.