New British Army recruits should receive a £10,000 signing bonus to help reverse the military’s ongoing manpower crisis and prepare the UK for the growing threats posed by Russia and global instability, according to the Liberal Democrats.
Party leader Sir Ed Davey has called for an urgent overhaul of armed forces recruitment policy, proposing £10,000 for new soldiers who complete their training and serve for at least two years. In addition, the Lib Dems want to increase rejoining bonuses for veterans to £20,000 to bring experienced troops back into service.
The proposals, estimated to cost up to £45 million, come as the British Army struggles to reach recruitment and retention targets, with trained personnel standing at just 70,752 as of January, well below the 73,000 target outlined in the Government’s recent Strategic Defence Review.
“Given the threat of a barbaric Putin and the challenge of an erratic Trump, we need to do more to make Britain war-ready,” said Sir Ed, who recently visited UK troops deployed in Estonia.
“A new bonus scheme is needed to urgently attract new recruits, encourage experienced ex-soldiers back into the Armed Forces and reverse years of short-sighted troop cuts under the Conservatives.”
The British military has long faced a recruitment and retention crisis, with more personnel leaving than joining. Last month, Defence Secretary John Healey admitted the Army may not meet its strength target until the 2030s, despite recent improvements.
“We’ve narrowed the gap, but we’ve still got more people leaving than joining,” Mr Healey told reports. “The first job is to reverse that trend.”
Sir Ed warned that the UK must take national defence more seriously as geopolitical tensions mount, particularly in Eastern Europe and the High North.
He is also urging the Government to launch a public awareness campaign across the country, to help families prepare for potential conflict scenarios, including cyber-attacks and hostile acts.
“War readiness also starts at home,” he said. “That’s why I’m calling for a public awareness campaign aimed at every home in Britain.”
The Liberal Democrats are also advocating for deeper cooperation with European allies through initiatives like the Joint Expeditionary Force, particularly to safeguard British interests in the Arctic and High North, where Russia continues to assert military influence.
With defence now a growing political flashpoint in the run-up to the next election, pressure is mounting on both the Government and opposition parties to present credible plans for rebuilding the UK’s armed forces, especially in the face of emerging threats from Moscow, Tehran and an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
