To think we are being lined up for something?

Of all the typos I have seen on MN, this is the smallest 😂

Wondering where people are “from” is one of the reasons this country is a mess. The U.K. has been truly multicultural since WW2.

Also, even people who are not British may have lived here for long enough to make their own observations, as well as being legitimate voters, that doesn’t make them a “troll” does it?!

Maybe the intention is to use National Service to fill jobs like care worker vacancies. Including filling the 40"000 vacancies caused by their Covid vaccine mandate. Wouldnt be the first time they use the public to pay for their mistakes

They may be legally old enough to marry and/or start a family but no sensible 16 year old would do either of those things.

I think the voting age should be raised as should the age of being able to marry. Youngsters today are, on the whole, far more immature than youngsters in the past.

My parents started full time work at 14. Could you even imagine the mollycoddled 14 year olds of today coping with that?

As I said @Sweden99 , personally, I'd raise the voting age to 21. That's nothing to do with my political views. (I like Keir Starmer - though his weedy response as to what is a woman does him no favours). I think lots of 21 year old disaffected students would definitely vote Labour and they'd win by a landslide, but at least they would have had some life experiences to draw on before voting.

Are you from the UK yourself?
I ask because of your spelling of Labour and there being so many trolls about.

Essentially, we lumber people with a four year political tattoo every election. When then are 16 and 17 they have to live with the consequences. I agree we should not allow 16 year olds to have tattoos, but this is more like the older people get to tell them what tattoo to have whether they like it or not.

Anti-semitism and anti Zionism turned me 100% against labor a few years back.
Not sure the party has changed. Can’t understand why they champion “niche” issues that are incomprehensible to most people. Yet are blatantly racist. If they used same language and behavior towards any other population it would be a quick cancellation. It’s like they are so afraid of trans, and ok with Jwe-hating. I need to see the party being more openly friendly to all.

Seeing that National Service idea addressing the fact that many youth “hate” Britain and British values.

Agree that three days is nothing.

The “plebs” you speak of have not been able to go to Waitrose for years and are barely holding their shit together shopping in Lidl and Aldi so I think you’re safe.

Then politics should become part of the National Curriculum for all as most 16 year olds have little in terms of life experiences away from the home environment.

Why just the older voters.?!!!
The National service announcement isn’t compulsory. See recent updates.
No one will go to jail or get a ‘record’ if they don’t chose to do it.

Telling people to have about three days food in suggests they don't think it's going to be a very big disaster.

Or it's a cunning ploy to keep the plebs indoors for a bit whilst the elite loot all the Waitroses

So what do you think would be the lowest age to vote? 15? Why not? 14? Personally, I'd raise the voting age to 21. I think lots of disaffected students would definitely vote Labour, but at least they would have had some life experiences to draw on before voting.

@NosyJosie more choice would be wonderful

This country needs more viable political parties for a start. Most countries have multiple parties of relatively equal strength and as a result end up with more diverse parliaments. I’m embarrassed when I watch the parliament in sessions - either nobody shows up or if there is a full house, the entire time is spent on boos and posturing and nothing gets done. Then whenever a law needs passing and the House of Lords get involved they spend more time on tripping up the process than actually involving themselves in the issue and solving problems for the nation. There was a documentary about this a few years ago and that charmer Rees-Mogg proudly explained how he took steps to drag things and prevent any action. We seem to be having enquiry after enquiry with no action as a result. Nobody is ever arrested or tried for their behaviours (latest being the post office scandal) and it’s a huge waste of resources and time.

Guessing you're a Tory?

The conservatives have such a better deal in terms of how the voting boundaries have been drawn up.

Enabling 16/17 year olds to vote is a great idea in my opinion. Get them to engage in voting while they are young and idealistic.

Letting the old folks run the country hasn't worked, why not try something else?

Clearly it’s not every single older voter but generally these policies do well with the over 50/60s and that’s why the Tories are going for them, it shores up their base.

I’m an ‘older’ voter.

I think National Service is abhorrent.

Agree 100% Especially the "older voters" in favour of sending those same 16 year olds off for national service in 2 years time!

But not to young to work, marry, start a family etc? They are able to partake in lots of things impacted directly by political decisions and should have a say in who is making those decisions. Many of them are a damned sight more politically savvy than older voters.

Yep, totally agree. Now this is something that reeks of desperation.

• My biggest worry is not National Service - that happens in other countries without disastrous results - its the Labour suggestion of votes for 16 year olds. Your 16 year old may be incredibly intelligent and wise, but if they're too young to get a tattoo or enlist without parental permission, they're too young to vote.

Not a stupid concept at all. You don't need the weather man to know which way the wind is blowing. Ukraine war ramping up. China is looking closely at Taiwan. Red Sea blockades. Gaza/Palestine/Iran/Israeli conflict. If folks can't see that this at very least is likely to lead to supply shortages they are delusional. Food shortages may well be the least of our worries.

The privileged few have probably already done ccf at school.
Its worth noting it’s those that usually join up full time as well which is why there’s a push for a more multicultural armed forces. A recruitment officer resigned after being told they couldn’t employ white males.

Exactly this! Can you imagine the terror in the UK if social media and the current msm had been flooding us with information in the period leading up to the second World War? Or during it? Perhaps the panic would have floored us all! Anxiety must be a terrible thing to have, and I'm SO sorry for anyone suffering from it, but do keep far away from the news and threads about future wars and unrest. Guard yourself well - you are important and loved by those around you and need to be as strong as you can for them.

It sounds more like he’s desperate not to win.
National service isn’t a vote winner. In a recent poll 60% were against it.
I do wonder why anyone campaigning to get back into power would suggest such a thing, it can’t be just to real in a few Reform votes,