Britain may need to introduce new form of conscription to take on Putin, MI6 chief warns

The former head of MI6 has suggested Britain may need to introduce a form of conscription in the face of new international threats.

Sir Alex Younger said the Government could require powers to compel Britons to give their service one way or another.

The ex-spy suggested a new type of enrolment would stop short of full military service for all.

In extremis, I think wed be looking at something like the model I understand exists in places like Sweden, where the government theoretically has the power to compel people to give their service one way or another, but doesnt exercise it except in areas where its really needed, he told the BBCs Today Podcast.

Sir Alex said he was not proposing blanket conscription but that he was interested in ways in which the broader country would participate and contribute to security in a time of an emergency.

Sweden reintroduced a form of conscription for over-18s in 2017 in response to Russias invasion of Crimea.

In a separate development, families have been warned to pack a 72-hour survival kit in case Russian attacks on energy pipelines plunge Britain into a blackout.

Households should be ready for all eventualities, security sources told The Mail on Sunday, to prepare for possible sabotage of the UKs infrastructure by Vladimir Putin.

Each stockpile of emergency supplies should include enough bottled water and non-perishable food for each family member for three days. It should also include medicines, a battery-powered radio and torch, identity documents and a Swiss army knife, it was suggested. 

The former head of MI6 has suggested Britain may need to introduce a form of conscription

Sir Alex Younger said the Government could require powers to compel Britons to give their service

Ssources told The Mail on Sunday, households should prepare for possible sabotage of the UKs infrastructure by Vladimir Putin

The warning comes in the wake of increasing concern over Russian activity in the North Sea close to crucial energy links with continental Europe.  

One of Putins spy ships, the Yantar, was detected mapping the UKs critical underwater infrastructure in recent months.

In another development, sensors thought to have been planted by Russia to spy on Britains Vanguard nuclear submarines have been found in waters off the coast.

Nearly 40 per cent of the UKs gas supply is imported from Norway, much of which comes through the single, 700-mile Langeled pipeline. Vital telecommunications cables also run undersea.