Morality and reality: the key problems facing UK military recruiters

Calls to prepare for war butt up against record on recent conflicts, pay and conditions, and changing youth culture

On Friday, soldiers from the British army's Royal Anglian regiment were practising their part in a Nato exercise due to take place in Poland in March. It is expected to be the largest in eastern Europe in a decade, with 20,000 troops from the military alliance scheduled to take part in the show of anti-Russia strength.

However, a rift between the army and the Conservative government meant Downing Street, unsure what ordinary soldiers might say, had instructed that no participants would be available for interview by journalists hoping to attend.