Only 16% of Brits would fight to defend France

Only 16% of Britons would fight in a war to defend France, according to new UnHerd polling.

The survey, conducted by FocalData, polled 1,012 UK voters about foreign policy and defence, asking them which nations they would be willing to defend in an armed conflict. As Second World War veterans travel to Normandy to mark today’s 80th anniversary of D-Day, the UnHerd findings reveal that British gratitude is in short supply.

Among respondents, 70% said they would not want to fight “to defend France from an invasion”, with 14% answering “don’t know” or “prefer not to say”. The 18-24 age bracket, for all the mirth surrounding Rishi Sunak’s proposal for national service late last month, was actually the most enthusiastic about defending the Fifth Republic, with 24% saying they’d fight for France. In contrast, the oldest age groups of 55-64 and 65+ were less keen, with 15% and 16% respectively stating that they would enlist (if allowed).