Fighting chance of future peace

OUR military is not fit for purpose. It does not have the manpower or the weapons to compete with Russia.

- 

There are only 72,000 regular forces personnel currently serving in the British Army. The numbers are not very high for the territorial army either. It's nowhere near enough to fight a ground war.

But where would the money come from to train all those conscripted? Surely that would divert money away from regular troops who would be the first people sent into combat?

I think the financial resources would be better spent elsewhere, such as on weapons. I also don't think women should be called up. There are plenty of young men around if it came to it.

David Foster, Brighton

■ I hope that in my lifetime we never witness the younger generation being called up to fight. There has been enough bloodshed fighting in foreign wars and we do not need to lose any more.

I'd be devastated if my grandsons were forced to fight. I hope Keir Starmer resists any attempts to bring in conscription.