National Service if Tories are re-elected

[MaryMaryVeryContrary]

Thoughts? 🍿

Look at the words you are using- exactly the feelings the Tories want to engender from this ludicrous publicity stunt.
Doing my duty
Doing my bit for my country
Remembering my grandfather who fought in a war

It won't happen as it did then. It won't be about discipline, moral standards, backbone, duty, doing anything to protect/help the country. It would be a meeting in a community centre once a week or attending an assault course weekend once a year- and no-one would monitor or enforce any of it when the teenagers didn't turn up. It's drivel. We are so far away from having any resources to put in place and implement a programme of National Service it is laughable.
Culturally, we are unable to do it too. Young people would refuse - the NEETS wouldn't leave their bedrooms and x-boxes. They'd all be excused with medical notes that their mothers had dragged them to GPs to get, citing depression, mental health issues. The ones who would do it and enjoy it are those who are already achieving and contributing.
It would be hopeless- recruited crap instructors, left to run rubbish activities with teenagers who didn't turn up, or an already grossly depleted military having unwilling teenagers foisted on them for the odd weekend to do assault courses with.
Total waste of time and money- but many Tory voters will go 'It's a great idea. Will do them good to have discipline, do something for the country , stop causing anti-social behaviour, get out of bed. I'm definitely voting Rishi now!'
If lazy 18 year old Jack next door who dodged school, has 'lockdown trauma' , doesn't get up until 2pm and sits in the dark watching porn or on his x-box until 3am has to do national service, he won't be any help when Russia push the button.
It's a con, just a cynical ploy to win back Tories to the ballot box. It won't solve a single issue we face as a country.

Completely muddled and useless.

The Armed Forces generally don't want conscription - it's a small professional group of services now, not a holding pen for young people.

Also I saw something about a limit of 30,000 - is that for the Armed forces, or the total scheme?

The idea of 12 months in v 12x weekends volunteering is just risible.

Risible Rishi

The plan IS for compulsory National Service. ALL 18 year olds...

The Nazis successfully invaded the Channel Islands fwiw

Interesting story thanks for sharing. I don’t disagree on the community point at all and actually if done well then in some cases could produce good outcomes. But it won’t be done well as it’s not part of our society and would take years to work, all the while disrupting the important early years of young people’s careers and higher education.

I also vehemently disagree that this is just about 18 year olds and I think national should mean national.

Everyone, no exceptions and no voting for what you think someone else should do when you’d never have to do the same yourself. It’s either everyone or no one.

I'm probably in the demographic he hopes to impress.

I also have a 17 year old.

I think he just irrevocably lost my vote.

Excellent idea.

You underestimate the Tories. What if becoming a conscientous objector was like claiming disability benefits? Untrained assessors could mete out sanctions in line with whatever targets the government sets. Could be a nice little earner for somebody.

I see this thread has been moved.

And this affects every parent with a young child - so maybe this should have stayed where it was.

.

He's obviously just thought that one up off the top of his head. They've been in for bloody years and never mentioned it.

not compulsory

"If lazy 18 year old Jack next door who dodged school, has 'lockdown trauma' , doesn't get up until 2pm and sits in the dark watching porn or on his x-box until 3am has to do national service, he won't be any help when Russia push the button"

LOL, too true. Much better for them to be forced to do community service. At least that would be of SOME use to the rest of society.

On point.

Ah. That speaks volumes.

@Willmafrockfit please do provide the evidence that it's not compulsory when that's what it says everywhere

Absolutely agree. No age exemptions, no dog ate homework, nothing. If you support it, if you think it's good enough for 18 year olds, it's good enough for you too.

I'm over the age limit for the army now Simon! There is an upper age limit if you're not aware of that.

Yet again , as ive said to you 50 million times, if i was 18 and in the UK and this proposal came in , I would like to do it.

Are you able to evolve a discussion in any way, because you've said the same exact thing to me now four times.

With 25 days of volunteering?

Rather than investing money into education, health and proper training?

A lot of MNers probably have kids who have done CCF (compulsory at my kids school). They’ve already had to handle real guns and march on parade grounds. My kids don’t want to do anymore of it. My younger son is doing a degree that will be very beneficial for injured and disabled people so I certainly don’t see him as someone who needs to be contributing anymore than he already will be.

Sidecar question sorry - was there any qualification when he started CCF about what it would mean in the event that there was a shortage in the armed forces? Is there a requirement or a reserve list they’re on given the training they’ve had?

Is he planning on exceptions for those with a public or independent school background? Otherwise he won't be getting those Telegraph reader votes he planned on.

If he's found £2.5 billion a year to fund this down the back of a sofa, how about applying it to the appalling child poverty figures?

Better start learning compulsory Russian that Comrade Starmer will be bringing in if he wins.

How do we invest the money with so few taxpayers? We are skint