London: In the words of MP Andrew Murrison, who spoke to the Financial Times, the British military may need to review its hiring practises so that it can access a wider pool of applicants, including those with specific neurological conditions.

Murrison, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for defence personnel, veterans, and service families, argued that this would help address the ongoing staffing shortages in the armed forces.

In an interview with the Financial Times that was published on Wednesday, Murrison said that "there are pinch points where things are quite serious," and he suggested that the UK military should take a more "flexible" stance when hiring new personnel. According to the MP, as the military places more emphasis on cyberwarfare, it should start "casting the net more widely" to hire "neurodiverse" individuals.

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There is "no philosophical reason why we couldn't look at extending the age of retirement," according to Murrison, who also suggested allowing older employees to serve for longer.

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A government-commissioned study found that the British military was having trouble luring in technologically proficient recruits in June.

General Tim Radford, the NATO's deputy supreme allied commander for Europe, also issued a warning last month, saying that because London's military is "too small," it may no longer be a major player in the US-led alliance.

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In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the commander emphasised that while Britain is placing its faith in modern technology, it cannot completely replace traditional armed forces.

Only 42% of British military personnel surveyed between September 2022 and February 2023 reported being satisfied with their service, according to a survey released last month. Poor housing conditions and low wages were among the main issues the poll raised.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace acknowledged in January that the British military was "hollowed out and underfunded" in his comments on the situation.