Labour has been accused of “political gesturing” over plans to enable veterans in their 60s to be recalled for ‘warlike preparations’. Ministers are set to raise the age limit of the strategic reserve, which includes retired soldiers who can still be called out and mobilised if needed, from 55 to 65 as part of measures intended to make Britain more prepared for war.

Will Ashford-Brown, director of Strategic Insights at the Heligan Group, said while the plans will strengthen the Armed Forces on paper, “it does little to deter our adversaries”. In a report, he wrote: “It is, in effect, political signalling that fails to confront the deep‑rooted issues undermining our ability to recruit and retain a credible fighting force.” The strategic reserve also includes a wider “recall reserve” that can be mobilised in dire emergencies.

Increasing the maximum recall age is designed to make it easier to mobilise former personnel in a crisis.

The current policy is not to recall any veteran over the age of 55, but the Armed Forces Bill, introduced to the House of Commons in January, aims to extend that by a decade.

The legislation would also allow reservists to be recalled for “war-like preparations”, lowering the current threshold for mobilisation from a “national danger, great emergency or attack on the UK”.

The changes will take effect in the spring of 2027, and those who have already left the military will not be affected unless they opt in.

About 95,000 people are estimated to be liable for recall as part of the strategic reserve, although the Ministry of Defence (MoD) does not publish statistics on the recall reserve.

While it is technically not conscription, it does bear some similarities.

Mr Ashford-Brown wrote: “I contend that the UK Armed Forces Bill mainly serves as political gesturing – to appease a UK populace that has grown tired of the incumbent government – rather than providing tangible military deterrence.

“At play are a number of factors that undermine the UK military’s ability to raise and manage such a force, rendering the initiative flawed.

“Firstly, the MoD [Ministry of Defence] lacks any concrete method to mobilise the Strategic Reserve as a result of historically lax tracking of service leavers.

“Therefore, the MoD only has a limited understanding of which individuals comprise the Strategic Reserve, where they live, how to contact them, their skill set and importantly their suitability to serve in the UK Armed Forces.

“Underlying this procedural challenge is a more fundamental problem – the UK’s declining patriotism.”

He added: “ If, in the event of war, the Strategic Reserve could be effectively mobilised, mustered with a force genuinely motivated to defend the homeland, and was properly equipped to do so — would it truly constitute a credible fighting force? Unfortunately, the short answer is no.”

The Armed Forces have struggled with a recruitment and retention crisis in recent years, with the size of the military shrinking following repeated cuts by successive governments.

The Express has revealed how the state of the military is increasingly causing concern within NATO, with Britain’s perceived lack of mass being one area identified as an issue.

Announcing the plans in January, Commander Standing Joint Command, Lt General Paul Griffiths, said: “Our Strategic Reserve represents a wealth of expertise built over years of military and civilian experience – from cyber and intelligence to medicine and communications.

“These reforms will allow us to mobilise that talent rapidly when it matters most, strengthening our readiness and aligning with a similar approach many NATO forces are taking to bolster their own resilience.”