The reaction to National Service on here

[MaryMaryVeryContrary]

Many European countries (including Scandinavian countries) have NS. Are they ‘ridiculous’? Or are their much-coveted-by-Mumsnet-users communities better because of their sense of individual responsibility and contribution?

If 24 days (that’s how long it would be in total) of delivering prescriptions or volunteering as a hospital guide has you talking about human rights violations and Nazi Germany, then it’s very clear that you’re so pampered a bit of NS would do you good.

Everyone on here expects the world in terms of a ’village’, generous benefits, a caring society, but wants to do fuck all to contribute to it and think the notion of them having to do ANYTHING for anyone else is insane.

It’s nuts!

Can’t think of a more ludicrous and unpopular policy to come up with at current??

Yet, whilst everyone is so incensed by it and discussing all the very valid reasons why it won’t work, they are NOT asking the government about the fact that state schools are crumbling and our kids are being taught by TAs, the health service is on its knees, nobody can get the ‘free’ dental care or childcare they are entitled to, their mortgage and energy bills have gone through the roof and the seas are full of shite.

Which is probably pretty handy for the Conservatives!

I doubt they give a shit about distraction, they have 6 weeks left

It’s 6 very visible weeks where MPs are going to be grilled on telly and by their constituents on doorsteps all day every day. It provides a distraction from the dreadful reality of the last 14 years.

I'm delighted it is causing such a backlash against Sunak but I can't get worked up about it as it will never be implemented as the Tories are heading for a crushing defeat.

My view is that you either do it properly by employing these young people in public service (and paying them) or you don't bother. Giving up weekends to do random stuff is just a massive gimmick and designed solely to appeal to the older voter base who are wavering by pandering to their latent prejudice about young people.

@MaryMaryVeryContrary as you are clearly not doing 2 full days voluntary work a month, perhaps you would like to reflect on why not? And what you think gives you the right to justify opting out yourself, while being prepared to impose it on others.

I think most people haven't actually read the proposed plans, which is nothing like the 'conscription' they keep bleating about.

Still hate the tories though.

Not all of them.

Exactly!

It’s a stupid plan set up by millionaires who have no idea how the real world live. They don’t care people would have to give up paid employment to work weekends for free as not being able to buy food that week would never enter their privileged radar. Having to fund travel to this unpaid work while already missing out on wages wouldn’t cause financial hardship to them .

I would be happier with this idea if it were more carrot than stick based. Eg volunteers (true volunteers) got credits for money off university expenses - eg money directly paid toward accommodation or vouchers off supermarket shops. Same with those in work at 18, to give them money off living expenses. And definitely real flexibility about where or when it took place.

It’s a “dead cat” thrown on the table to distract from the REAL issues at this election.

It has, however, guaranteed I won’t be voting for Rishi or his henchpeople.

Absolutely, but you just know that wouldn’t happen.

The vouchers would be valid for 6 months, come with a code that doesn’t always work (just thinking back to how difficult it was for schools to access the ‘free’ laptops during lockdown) and you would only be able to redeem them at ‘Michelle Mone’s daylight robbery’ stores.

And more happily, it has persuaded my elderly parents not to vote Conservative for the first time ever, and loads of my kids’ friends to vote in the first place. Win win.

Rishi is trying to lose, isn’t he? California here he comes.

My two cents from the time when I really wanted to get into volunteering in my early 20s is that it would be better to spend the money to provide and facilitate better opportunities for those who want to do it.

In my experience it was crap, I didn't live in the sticks yet there didn't seem to be much to do especially at weekends. There was little in the way of mentoring or shadowing, you'd just be put in situations where you didn't have a clue what to do and felt like you were doing more harm than good.

If these things were decently run more people would come forward to volunteer.

Should it not just be across the board then.

From 1st of January 2026, to allow everyone a calendar year's grace to get up to speed, nobody can receive any state benefits including child benefit and pension or avail of any rebates etc (with the exception of essential health care from the nhs) without having completed the required national service.

Anyone who served in the military will be exempt if they can prove they received no remuneration for their service or repay the equivalent of the NS days required pro rata.

State approved doctors will also be able to b provide exemptions for those unable to complete their national service.

Anyone turning 18 after the start date has a year to complete their NS while still entitled to claim any relevant government assistance.

Otherwise what's the point in only imputing the 18 year old sense of community and having them give something back, the people in their 40s and 50s have more power to affect change and so society will benefit most from them having the opportunity to give back to their country

This is me.

I just find it interesting so many people are allergic to doing ANYTHING for anyone yet expect the world in return.

They’ve got the society they deserve IMO

I’d rather pay plenty of tax and have people well paid for doing a professional service than a wheezing underfunded state propped up by volunteers & conscripts.

It’s already a disgrace how much of the fallout of this government’s policies lands on the voluntary sector. Disgraceful and frightening. People released from prison, care leavers, victims of domestic abuse, children in poverty, people with terminal illness… and so many others. Almost all are directed to charities for support.
When is the government going to accept that they need to pay for resources to clean up their own mess?

If we ever went to war the entire country would be glued to the tv awaiting advice and instruction off the government. Everyone would be assuming that other people would save us and protect the country - yet wouldn’t want to be involved in that themselves.

Yes we moan about the cost of living but we’ve been very very lucky we have not been involved in a war for a very long time. Those hardships have long been forgotten. The country has an under current of hating this very safe place that people literally travel across seas to reach. We are a very entitled, selfish, lazy nation

I think it’s a very good idea that we should all be involved in national service - and not just for making cups of tea.

Yes, it's like people have forgotten what a failure the Big Society bollocks was. It's one thing believing that the first time round, but now? Inexcusable!

What do we pay tax for? I would happily pay more tax for decent public services rather than having a public sector falling apart and basic public services being mopped up by charities. That's my National Service. Having a well paid job and paying my fucking taxes. People voting Conservative get the society they deserve, but I'm not sure what the rest of us have done to deserve this mess.

Well given half the sole organizations that support the armed forces are not government funded I wouldn't be waiting that long for the government to dig us out this mess .

Anyone who's daft enough to believe this proposal would actually be of benefit deserves the decline in public services that would inevitably result.

Frankly, reading this thread makes me want to sign up to an MLM and email some of the people who agree with OP to see if they'll buy into a wonderful business opportunity. The gullibility is off the charts.

Compulsory "volunteering" is not volunteering - it's free labour.