National Service if Tories are re-elected

[MaryMaryVeryContrary]

Thoughts? 🍿

In principle a good idea, in practice not. Some countries in Europe have reintroduced it explicitly because of the Russian threat.

The reality is it will descend into arguments about which bedrooms trans sleep in, the woke generation and the mental health of those and who end up suing.

A general election really isn't the time to dream up the idea. Maybe if they had kicked it around for a while and developed it.

What a terrible idea!!

They'll be in the USA by autumn no doubt.

So most parents aren’t going to vote Tory then? Is this him trying to get out of being prime minister…

What happened to the National Citizens Service? I know a couple of kids who did it, though one was autistic and only did about two days.

My dad did NS (he'd be 93 now). He enjoyed it, got to parachute jump etc. Thing about him was that he'd been institutionalised from the age of 6 (boarding school from that age). Living communally was totally normal to him, and of course in those days it was all-male; it was living with a family that was weird and alien to him.

If this were a real policy it would be building on something that already exists, presumably the NCS. Announcing something completely new with the name 'national service' is just pathetic.

Here's a thought, how about investing that money in recruitment and retention to the armed forces? In making it attractive and beneficial to those who want to do it? How about ramping up our defence industrial base to make sure we have stockpiles of weapons,tech and equipment?

I mean it’s obviously a fucking awful idea what will never happen because it’s a
really unpopular idea apart from with a tiny minority of people.

i haven’t read the entire thread so this had probably been said before but I don’t understand why he would announce this because he’s basically lost the votes of any young people he might have had.

Only a few months ago, his spokesperson insisted there would be no National Service

Sunak was accused of hypocrisy over his scheme. In January, the prime minister rebuked the chief of the general staff, Sir Patrick Sanders, following his suggestion the UK might need a citizen army to fight Putin. The prime minister’s spokesman said at the time that Sunak did not agree with his comments and insisted there would be no return to national service, which was abolished in 1960.

Personally think it’s a good idea, but then I’m old school. You only have to look at how resourceful the young ones are on race across the world. Etc I don’t think it hurts young teenagers to do some hard work for a few months.

I think it shows he's just given up. He knows the Tories will loose and he is just getting through the next six weeks before he goes on his hollybobs. No particular strategy just a scattergun of trigger words for, his rapidly diminishing, base, like ULEZ or parking or small boats, now National Service. It's nonsense. And we couldn't afford it. A years placement with the forces means loads of training, which has an associated cost and loads of admin, again with an associated cost. Taking kids out on exercise, again a cost. Six more weeks of this nonsense, give me strength...

In Sweden they do this. But in reality only a small number actually do it and they apply and have to pass assessments.
I think in reality it would be easy enough to get out of if you didn't want to do it.

Obviously not many would want National Service as a thing in itself. That's why we haven't had it for so many years as there was no war in Europe and no direct threat. But there is a war in Europe now. I'd like our children to just be a bit more prepared. Just in case. People fight in wars for different reasons but the main reason surely is to defend your family and your home and your life which is what Ukrainians are having to do. With any luck we won't have to do this ourselves but as we all know, shit happens..

My opinion is clouded by being from a country where this is still a done thing (although I do think it should he expanded to everyone, not just men). I don't really have a problem with it. However, it would require institutional change for the whole National Service. When the system is created to support this (and civil service as an alternative) then further studies and all is not going to be problem.

But if we have war imposed up us with no choice there likely will be rationing / food shortages and if we have no proper appropriate trained army we will be taken prisoner (slavery) or killed (though I imagine hanging would be a very inefficient way of killing us. Nobody wants national service (and a war) but do we need national service (to be prepared if the worst happens?)

The whole topic is terrifying obviously and I'm very definately middle aged and so probably one of the first killed but if I knew war was definately coming and they asked if i wanted a gun and some training (or whatever was appropriate) I would say yes so at least I'd have a chance of defending myself.

Looks like Sunak dreamt it up on one of his many flights and thought fuck it why not. Next idea compulsory Morris dancing classes in schools. Does anybody remember that dirge the Tories tried to foist on schools, "Strong Britain,Great Nation". The Tories really are the enemy within we should unite to drive them from our shores. Listening to LBC now and nearly ever caller is livid.

700,000 18 year olds, 30,000 places and just £2.5 billion to facilitate this? the military cannot handle 30k people who don't want to be there.

So the rest, some 670,000 youngsters all working weekends in a charity shop or annoying NHS staff......

Oh and as 18yo's wont be able to go to University to become nurses engineers etc, we are going to make skills shortages even worse..

Do the Tories have a secret forum whose job is to dream up bat shit policies???

I think the word mandatory kind of indicates it wouldn’t be that easy to get out of.

@TheRiddle Don't be ridiculous - russia isn’t going to invade the UK. If war comes it'd mean being shipped off to Eastern Europe

I did apologies. That was silly of me especially given the well documented huge contribution by women in the last war.

Daily Mail comments not impressed.

They also fucked up the messaging - it's 25 days volunteering a year - NOT 1 weekend a month.

25 days volunteering is still very hard to work out logistically for many reasons - and it's a lot of effort to put in from a charity / the police - for a volunteer who won't be there long.

As well as the how will they get there, where will they stay, how will any accommodation etc be funded.

I am sure the organisations will ask all these questions. Having volunteers who don't want to be there isn't very helpful

Being selfish we have nukes and a bloody big moat around us. As an island nation we are pretty safe.

What war?

Russia cannot even defeat a small nation with no air force and limited air defence..... plus its wrecked their economy.

Its all scaremongering & if there was a nuclear war, its all over.

You first then. If it's that good an idea, it'll be worth your while too.

How is this being funded? Presumably the 18 years old will be paid if doing the army option? Where are they going to be based - is there lots of surplus army accommodation? Is it just for those turning 18 that year or will the those 19 plus be exempt?

the weekend volunteering - what happens if they have a job that involves weekend work? If they are at uni, do they have to go home and do it or is it done in their uni town? Does this mean uni towns will have loads of volunteers - what will they do with them all?

Lots of keyboard warriors here supporting the notion of National Service. I’m guessing very few of them have ever dug a gun pit in the rain and cold, put up with four hours sleep a day or been screamed at for not "putting in". Anyway - let’s hope your soft kids enjoy the journey.