Keir Starmer has proposed an increase in UK defence spending, advocating for a trained Reserve to deter aggression, which resonates with a self-identified liberal who emphasizes the importance of national defense. Despite progressive concerns about nationalism and militarization, the author believes in the necessity of citizen readiness to protect democracy, drawing comparisons to the bravery of young Ukrainians facing invasion. They argue for a cultural shift in how military service is viewed, suggesting that even without conscription, voluntary participation in the Reserves could enhance national unity and deterrence.