Broadcaster Carole Malone has issued a stark warning to younger generations who are dismissing the significance of VE Day, telling them they may have "no choice" but to fight for their country in the future.
Speaking on GB News, the commentator expressed concern about what she described as "pampered" and "spoilt" young people who fail to understand the importance of commemorating Victory in Europe Day.
Her comments come as new research reveals a worrying decline in awareness of VE Day among younger Britons, with six in ten Gen Z respondents admitting they have never heard of the occasion.
Speaking to GB News, Malone said: "It’s such a lovely, special day today, isn’t it? It really is.
Carole Malone gave the stark warning
GB NEWS
"We've got to be upbeat because it’s such an important celebration, completely.
"I mean, you know, all week I’ve been watching it on TV, and I was part of a show here on Monday night when we had veterans in. They just make my heart weep, honestly.
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"I just wonder how many younger people really understand it. They don’t they just don’t get it.
"I think they should get it, because that was a time when this country was at its very best. People pulled together.
We’ve been talking about that poll saying half of Brits wouldn’t fight for their country anymore.
"I think they’re so pampered, so spoiled, they don’t realise they might have to one day. There may not be a choice."
The YouGov poll referenced by Malone reveals significant findings about British attitudes toward military service.
According to recent YouGov research, two-thirds of Britons (66 per cent) say they know a great deal or fair amount about World War 2.
Only 11 per cent of Gen Z said they would fight for Britain, while 41 per cent stated there were no circumstances at all in which they would take up arms for their country.
This marks a significant decline from 2004, when 22 per cent of young people said they would fight for their country, and 57 per cent said they would fight if they agreed with the reasons for war.
Only 11 per cent of Gen Z said they would fight for Britain
GETTYSummer Nesbeth, a 23-year-old model and journalism student from Nottingham, explained her reluctance to fight for Britain, saying: "Why would I help you, if you don't want to really help me, and half the time you want to get rid of me?"
Half-Indian and half-Jamaican, Nesbeth described experiencing systemic racism firsthand, including being stopped and searched in stores.
"I think it's wrong and delusional to think that this isn't a racist country," she said. "We don't learn about black history but we were built on racism."
Charlie Sawyer, 25, shared similar views, adding: "If you're not willing to recognise how as a society we still contribute to systemic racism, casual racism, I don't think that there's going to be any progress there."
