This book studies conscription in the years immediately following the Second World War, when for the first time Britain introduced conscription. The book examines the military reasoning behind conscription, and then shows how opposition to National Service grew in the changing economic circumstances of post-war Britain. It explores the party politics of National Service and examines how the Labour Party previously bitterly opposed to conscription, came to pass the 1947 National Service Act. The book examines how National Service was essential to the defence and foreign policies of the Attlee g ... More

This book studies conscription in the years immediately following the Second World War, when for the first time Britain introduced conscription. The book examines the military reasoning behind conscription, and then shows how opposition to National Service grew in the changing economic circumstances of post-war Britain. It explores the party politics of National Service and examines how the Labour Party previously bitterly opposed to conscription, came to pass the 1947 National Service Act. The book examines how National Service was essential to the defence and foreign policies of the Attlee governments, and became one of the foundations of the post-war consensus on Britain’s security.