National Service if Tories are re-elected

[MaryMaryVeryContrary]

Thoughts? 🍿

I was in a tiny gardenless flat with a mobile baby and toddler as a first time mum. Would’ve been much easier as a teen not even cooking their own meals I’m sure!

“Politicians who took us to war should have been given the guns and told to settle their differences themselves, instead of organising nothing better than legalised mass murder.”
― Harry Patch, The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch, the Oldest Surviving Veteran of the Trenches

Precisely - if it’s such a good idea there is no reason why those over 18 should get away with not doing it. But of course if people actually had to do it themselves rather than just saying “oh, it’ll improve these pesky young people” then there wouldn’t be a single Tory voter left…

It's dog whistle politics. Ignore

You're not the arbiter of what constitutes unpleasant, though.

Lockdown had a big impact on many youngsters, it’s well documented and it triggered some quite severe mental health struggles which then were not supported by services but left to get worse. Leaving mental health struggles doesn’t make them go away.

Most 18yr olds do not have grandparents who fought in WW2.
My children are too young to have known their serving relatives from that generation.

The proposal itself is obviously stupid and pointless. As a poster said a few pages back, they might as well promise compulsory tap dancing. I do think people's responses to it are interesting in themselves, though.

Tories are heading for the abyss. The daily mail did a poll the other day how readers will ballot 17% would vote tory, 46% reform party. I was stunned.

In theory I think it’s a good idea. There are far too many precious cherubs who have no idea about the world of work and live in a state of entitlement which will definitely not help them find or succeed in employment.
In practice, it will be a disaster because they won’t implement it properly and parents will be up in arms about little Henry or Hermione having to do, well, anything.

I didn't join the reserves because I didn't live in the UK all of my life

Like a lot of people, my family mlved countries and moved around. I was born in the UK, lived there till I was 15, then we moved to another country.

You can't join the UK reserves when you live in a different country.

and uh let’s stop them joining criminal gangs and stabbing grandmas by ummm teaching them to kill

💔

Another populist policy like Rwanda that will never happen , not least because Rishi will not get re elected.

Sorry but it's a total non story.

So did you do your grandad proud by joining the reserve forces elsewhere, as you think its also something you would enjoy so much?

I hope you are right but remember we aren't actually an island any more and the Channel is tiny. Russia is getting its act together on the war front footing and its technology is improving re physical warfare (eg blocking the US missiles). If it wins its unlikely to rest on its laurels and NATO countries are potential targets. I would think we are a major target and a useful one to take out for any enemy as a leading NATO member. We can't be sure of anything these days.

I get your point about Sunak though.

I’m not completely opposed to the idea, I think National Service would do some good, you only have to look at the slovenly stream of teenagers ambling home from school to see it would do them good to have some sense of self respect both for themselves and for the country they live in. However I think implementing it would be virtually impossible, judging by the comments on here it wouldn’t be supported by parents, the kids will just not turn up, they will start whinging at the first sign of discipline … I’ve been made to polish my shoes … shock horror, wear a skirt that reaches longer than my backside, I can’t do my hair, my make up, play on my computer, the list goes on. I also doubt that the NHS, Fire Service etc want whiny sulky teenagers forced on them every weekend, if they handed one of them a broom to sweep up they’d stand there looking lost. It’s a policy doomed to fail.

I think they will end up exempting people in further education or work. I suspect they are targeting the NEETs.

Yeah so they might be encouraged by different reasons.

To help protect the country for a year.

Again, it's OPTIONAL

They don't have to do it.

I'd venture to add it's the suspicion of exactly this that lies behind so many visceral reactions

I'm sure you're not 18 if your granddad fought in WW2.

His Green Card renewal application is probably all filled out, ready to press Send.

Sweden, Norway and Denmark have something like it don’t they? I think it might be an ok idea. I could see DD really enjoying it.

And at a time when we have an ageing population crisis.

Fucking idiots.

God youre talking the biggest amount of crap.

How exactly would me joining the army in another country honour my grandfather. Can you explain that. Youre talking rubbish.

Did you join the reserves in the UK Simon?

Why not?