Army chief says politicians to start 'frank conversation' with public to prepare for war

The head of the army says the UK's political leaders are about to start a "frank conversation" with the public about the need to prepare for war.

General Sir Roly Walker said every citizen will be asked to make sacrifices and to play their part in the defence of the nation.

He was speaking very bluntly to troops during a visit to Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire this week.

The comments were captured on camera by British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS).

"You didn't know this, but our nation is going to need you," the chief of the general staff told the group of around 700 soldiers.

"There was a time that our nation didn't want to think of a time when it would need its soldiers to fight in a war," he said.

"Indeed, very soon, the political leaders of this country will start to have a frank conversation with the citizens of this country about just what is going on and where the risk lies.

"They are going to try and explain to our citizens that our citizens have got to consent to sacrifices to prioritise defence and security.

"And then they are going to ask those citizens, for whom we are not necessarily at the front of their mind, that they too need to play a part in the defence and security of this country.

"They need to understand what we do for them. They need to consent to allow us to do that. Which means sacrifices by them.

"And ultimately we are going to need them to back us, to back you to do the one thing that you do that nobody else gets to do and that is to take the fight to the enemy."

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Andy Burnham inherited a promise made by Sir Keir Starmer to start a national conversation on defence.

However that pledge was made more than 18 months ago.

Without a push from the centre of government, conversations have been taking place all across defence and security circles, including with a Sky News podcast and Sky TV series, both called The Wargame.

The prime minister is also meant to be launching a new campaign to encourage every household to be better prepared for every kind of crisis, from floods and droughts to armed conflict - another plan that he took over from the previous administration that he has yet to deliver.

(c) Sky News 2026: Army chief says politicians to start 'frank conversation' with public to prepare for war