Sunak promises to bring back national service for 18-year-olds

He’s deluded if he thinks NS is going to win any votes, some may think behavior of young people needs improving (including me) but it needs doing in schools and at home, not national service.

Nice one Loopyloo [Wink]

According to the BBC:

Their other option would be to volunteer one weekend per month - or 25 days per year - in their community with organisations such as fire, police and the NHS.

Yes, that’s just what our beleaguered emergency services need.

I do agree with Starmer on this that Sunak is desperate now to get votes. He is hoping older people will approve of this and vote Tory.
I'm an older person and think it's a ridiculous idea. Young people today will rebel against what they will see as their freedom being taken away.

My mind boggled at the idea that the NHS has the ability to spare people for supervision, and issues of safety and hygiene and what work could unskilled do except mop floors.

I suppose the term ‘National Service’ may appeal to the Tory voters, but doubt it would bear any resemblance to the National Service in days of yore.
Will it be for males and females? If it’s male only, then I’d expect a massive rise in numbers for the trans community!
Still, as Aveline said, they can promise the earth, safe in the knowledge they won’t be elected ( and even if they do, they can just ‘forget’)

The Conservatives will be missing a trick if they don't also promise to bring back capital punishment. There are still a fair few votes to be won there.

Better to have decent apprenticeship schemes.

Anything with the words " bring back" will have some appeal I suppose.

Parsley3

The Conservatives will be missing a trick if they don't also promise to bring back capital punishment. There are still a fair few votes to be won there.

Reform's Lee Anderson have beaten them to it - if he has his way. Its not, of course, Reform policy.

youtu.be/ahgjEjJkZks?si=hlFTd6pNBc-aAC71

The link is to a YouTube video from Yes Minister where Bernard is being educated about polling and national service. Well worth a look.

Great - let the Tories rattle on about this Rwanda-esque "policy" - it will help lose them the election. Result!

Parsley3

The Conservatives will be missing a trick if they don't also promise to bring back capital punishment. There are still a fair few votes to be won there.

Really? Is that a serious comment? Which demographic would be in favour of a return to capital punishment?

You do know that I was being ironic, nanaK. To be clear, it was not a serious comment.

Parsley3

You do know that I was being ironic, nanaK. To be clear, it was not a serious comment.

Thank you!
Apologies for misunderstanding.

If young folk want to volunteer they will my GC have volunteered to work with adults with learning disabilities since they were 15 but it has to be the volunteers choice.You cant make someone especially a teenager do anything they dont want to.What use would a sullen teen with a phone stuck to their hand be? Another stupid idea from Tory HQ!!

SueDonim

The Tories really don’t want to get back into power, do they?

I think they know they haven’t got a hope.

Another nail in the Tory coffin! They can make all sorts of ridiculous proposals to try and appeal to the ‘Reform’ lot, because they know they won’t be in power to implement them. Can’t wait for the next announcement!

The amount of supervision needed for unskilled with voluntary work in massive, not mention administration, DBS checks etc, its not 1950 now.

I used to supervise those on community service and always offered work experience opportunities. Because it was public facing and security checks had not been done it was necessary to allocate constant supervision by a staff member, we did it because we wanted to give folk a chance but it's really nor practical

I wonder if they want their own children to do it?

I posted this on the other thread too.

Someone thought of a similar sceme many years ago from which thousands of young people have benefited. 🙂

However, it is entirely voluntary.

www.dofe.org/do/sections/

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME

Which is entirely voluntary.

🙂

Parsley3

You do know that I was being ironic, nanaK. To be clear, it was not a serious comment.

But I’m sure ‘ Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells’ would be in favour!

However I read that 12 countries have already implemented a similar scheme!
Greece is well known for its one year compulsory military service year for its young people. A constant threat from Turkey is behind it.
Does seem to me Rishi Sunak doesn’t know how to his ideas with voters.