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

(129 Posts)
Wyllow3 Sun 26-May-24 00:07:15

www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/25/sunak-promises-to-bring-back-national-service-for-18-year-olds

"Rishi Sunak announced last night that a future Conservative government would bring back mandatory national service last night, as he attempted to reignite his election campaign after an error-strewn start.

Under the plan, which appeared to be his latest attempt to reduce Tory losses by winning over voters drifting to Reform UK, the prime minister said that every 18-year-old would have to spend time in a competitive, full-time military commission or spend one weekend a month volunteering in “civil resilience”."

Daily Mail also presented the plan
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13460033/prime-minister-military-service-school-leavers-12-months-general-election.html

"The plan to reintroduce National Service was drawn up in secret, with only Mr Sunak's close advisers – understood to include former Tory leader William Hague – privy to the details.

In their confidential 40-page plan, the advisers argued that the growing international threats posed by countries such as Russia and China needed to be addressed by beefing up our Armed Forces"

Callistemon21 Sun 26-May-24 12:09:19

ronib

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.

I think they are all fully aware of the threats that face us and would rather be prepared.

Wyllow3 Sun 26-May-24 12:07:59

I would welcome some kind of properly supervised benefits plus scheme for young people to get something on a CV and life experience but as several have mentioned above the levels of supervision required are completely, utterly unrealistic in current proposals.
In fact quite dangerous without adequate supervision.

ronib Sun 26-May-24 12:06:26

How to present…

ronib Sun 26-May-24 12:06:05

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.

Daddima Sun 26-May-24 12:01:02

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!

Callistemon21 Sun 26-May-24 11:45:46

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME

Which is entirely voluntary.

🙂

Callistemon21 Sun 26-May-24 11:43:24

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/

JaneJudge Sun 26-May-24 11:21:24

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

notoveryet Sun 26-May-24 11:14:56

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

Katie590 Sun 26-May-24 10:58:57

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

LizzieDrip Sun 26-May-24 10:58:56

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!

maddyone Sun 26-May-24 10:53:19

SueDonim

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

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

paddyann54 Sun 26-May-24 10:51:16

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!!

nanaK54 Sun 26-May-24 10:43:20

Parsley3

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

Thank you!
Apologies for misunderstanding.

Parsley3 Sun 26-May-24 10:41:52

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

nanaK54 Sun 26-May-24 10:27:15

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?

Luckygirl3 Sun 26-May-24 10:10:46

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

Parsley3 Sun 26-May-24 10:06:25

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.

Wyllow3 Sun 26-May-24 09:57:46

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.

zakouma66 Sun 26-May-24 09:55:54

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

Wyllow3 Sun 26-May-24 09:54:58

Better to have decent apprenticeship schemes.

Parsley3 Sun 26-May-24 09:52:41

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.

Daddima Sun 26-May-24 09:50:35

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’)

Wyllow3 Sun 26-May-24 09:24:53

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.

AGAA4 Sun 26-May-24 09:13:21

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.