UK Defence Polling 2026: 58% Back NATO 2%, 67% Support Trident, Conscription Rejected
NATO 2% GDP spending: 58% support. Ukraine military aid: 54% support continuing. Nuclear deterrent Trident: 67% support keeping it. Conscription: 28% support, 58% oppose. Defence spending increase: 61% back it. The Conservatives still lead on defence trust but Labour is closing.
Which Party Do Voters Trust on Defence?
Conservatives still lead, Labour closingPolling question: “Which party do you trust most to handle defence and national security?” Source: composite of YouGov, Ipsos, Redfield & Wilton, May 2026.
Trident Nuclear Deterrent: Clear Public Majority
67% support keeping itUp from 56% in 2023. The increase tracks rising concern about Russian aggression. All main parties except the SNP and some Green MPs back renewal. Parliamentary support for Trident vastly exceeds the 20% who oppose it publicly.
Concentrated among Green, SNP and Labour left voters. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) remains active but Trident abolition polls poorly across the electorate as a whole.
Conscription: Strongly Opposed
58% oppose, only 28% supportThe Conservative Party’s 2024 manifesto included a proposal for a “national service” programme. It polled negatively, with 58% opposed, and is widely cited by analysts as one of the policies that damaged their electoral performance among young voters. Even among the over-65s, only 42% supported it. Conscription remains the most unpopular specific defence proposal tested in 2026 polling.
Ukraine Military Aid: Has Support Held?
Source: YouGov/Ipsos Ukraine tracker. Support has declined from 79% at invasion (Mar 2022) to 54% by May 2026 but retains a majority. Opposition has risen from 9% to 34% over the same period.
Key Defence Polling Numbers
Polling Data Table
| Issue | Finding | Date | Pollster | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support NATO 2% GDP target | 58% support / 21% oppose | Mar 2026 | YouGov | 2,100 |
| Support UK military aid to Ukraine | 54% support / 34% oppose | May 2026 | Composite | 3,400+ |
| Support keeping Trident | 67% support / 20% oppose | Feb 2026 | Ipsos | 1,836 |
| Conscription: support | 28% support | Apr 2026 | YouGov | 2,100 |
| Conscription: oppose | 58% oppose | Apr 2026 | YouGov | 2,100 |
| Defence spending increase: support | 61% support | Mar 2026 | Redfield & Wilton | 1,500 |
| Labour 2.5% pledge by 2030 | 47% support; 28% won’t deliver | Apr 2026 | Redfield & Wilton | 1,500 |
| Cyber defence priority | 71% say priority | Mar 2026 | YouGov | 2,100 |
| UK join EU defence pact | 39% support / 38% oppose | Apr 2026 | Survation | 1,521 |
Analysis: The New Defence Consensus — and Its Limits
Cross-Party Consensus on NATO and Trident
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 created a durable public consensus on defence that transcends traditional party lines. All three main parties back the 2% NATO target and Trident renewal. 58% of voters support the 2% target, 67% back Trident and 61% want overall defence spending increased. The Conservatives retain a narrow lead on defence trust (27% vs Labour 24%) rooted in historical ownership of the brief, despite having cut troop numbers in real terms during their government years.
Reform UK’s Ukraine Scepticism
Reform UK’s 16% on defence trust conceals a more disruptive position: only 38% of Reform voters support UK military aid to Ukraine vs 54% nationally. Nigel Farage’s comments about NATO provocation of Russia have made Reform the home of Ukraine-sceptic voters. This is a small but growing bloc: opposition to Ukraine aid has risen from 9% nationally in 2022 to 34% by May 2026, as war fatigue and cost-of-living pressures shift public priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do UK voters think about NATO spending?
58% of UK voters support meeting the 2% GDP NATO spending target in 2026 polling, with 21% saying it is too much. Support has risen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Labour has pledged to reach 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030, backed by 47% of voters though 28% are sceptical it will be delivered given existing fiscal pressures.
Do UK voters support military aid to Ukraine?
54% of UK voters support continuing UK military aid to Ukraine in May 2026 polling, down from 79% at the time of Russia’s invasion in March 2022. Support remains a majority but has been declining steadily. Reform UK voters are the main outlier at only 38% support, reflecting their leadership’s sceptical stance on the conflict.
What do UK voters think about Trident nuclear renewal?
67% of UK voters support keeping the Trident nuclear deterrent in 2026, up from 56% in 2023. Support has grown significantly since the Ukraine war began. Only 20% want to scrap it. All main parties except the SNP and some Green MPs back Trident renewal in parliament, giving it cross-party support that significantly exceeds the 20% who publicly oppose it.
Do UK voters support military conscription?
No. 58% of UK voters oppose military conscription or mandatory national service, with only 28% in support. The Conservatives’ 2024 manifesto included a national service proposal that polled negatively and is widely cited as damaging their performance with young voters. Even among over-65s, only 42% supported it. Conscription remains the most unpopular specific defence policy tested in 2026.
Which party leads on defence in UK polls?
The Conservatives narrowly lead on defence trust at 27% in May 2026, just ahead of Labour at 24% and Reform UK at 16%. The Conservatives’ historical ownership of defence credentials gives them a structural advantage, though Labour has closed the gap by adopting a more muscular defence posture under Keir Starmer including the 2.5% GDP spending pledge.