Mandatory National Service for 18 yr olds Sunak decrees

[Heavenssakes]

How do you feel about mandatory National Service for 18 year olds - Sunak says he will introduce it if he wins election.

This is so not what I want for my DC, nor something they want to do. 1 years military service, when they have worked hard towards getting into Uni, and developing a career?

It's like steppng back into the 1950s.

Only saving grace, I can't imagine the forces wanting or being able to deal with thousands of press-ganged kids.

I fear for Sunak's sanity.

https://news.sky.com/story/sunak-says-he-will-bring-back-national-service-if-tories-win-general-election-13143184

@Springchickenonion there are numerous other non-custodial options.

Terrible idea. Also it will mean the rich can just buy their way out of it while poor people’s kids have to do it.
I wonder if it’s more drip feeding about getting us on a war footing.

It's been widely shared today including by the home Secretary.

The intricate details have NOT been established. The HS went out on the usual press round and that’s it.

Next on the Desperate Tories Desperate to Appeal to Jingoistic Morons stuck in the 1930s....

Work houses
Means Testing
Polio
TB
Rickets
Malnutrition
Cap Doffing
Field Digging for Victory

We've been told enough to comment, the 30,000 military places was briefed and widely reported yesterday.

I think it is horribly exploitative of the youth, if the article is correct that it is mandatory volunteering. Just a way to get young workers doing public sector jobs for free. It’s bad enough that we have a lower minimum wage for younger workers, but to add a mandatory year of working for free when 18-19 is incredibly ageist exploitation.

For goodness sake, that’s not intricate detail.

And the paid 30000 who have to apply was also briefed to the press. Why the denials?

I can only assume the military saw this first and saud they wouldn't take unpaid volunteers. I await a statement from the NHS , police, fire service on the sustainability of this plan!

Sunak released a video in which he imagines a world where 18 year old are running around delivering prescriptions. And where he keeps threatening us with danger.

You have answered your own point here - as you say, we are waiting for statements from the bodies involved 🙂

No one said it was except you. But intricate details on costing and feasibility would be demanded of Labour.

My 18 year old already runs around at the weekend delivering prescriptions-in a paid job at the local chemist. Do they want him to do it unpaid instead?

The article is still saying if you can’t pass tests for military service, then you’d be forced to volunteer one weekend a month for NHS, etc.

The most disadvantage and deprived youth won’t pass military screening and they would be the ones forced to work for nothing.

They've said no criminal consequences, so what do they mean - it is actually not mandatory, in which case it's just an expensive volunteering scheme? How can something be mandatory without legal consequences?

I see Farage has been scathing, so they're getting attacked from left and right on it.

This is going round in circles now. EVERY party should be upfront and transparent about every aspect of their plans. We don’t yet have all the info and I don’t know why you don’t accept that.

Intricate details aren't needed if you are against the whole concept.

I guess fines, exclusions from certain things and so forth.

Well, I am in favour of it but still want to know the ins and outs.

They haven't got any detail

But if they release a half-baked policy gimmick, they're going to get questioned about it.

I see they want to use levelling up funds to pay for it, which is frankly weird.

“possible non-criminal sanctions for any teenagers”

I think that would be in context of first steps before criminal prosecution.

noncriminal sanctions are fines or community orders where you don’t end up with a criminal record. If you fail to comply, then you can be charged with a criminal offence.

So, a possible route would be refusing teenagers will be fined, if they don’t or can’t pay the fine then they will be subject to community order to do the National service, if they refuse again, only then would they be handed a criminal custodial sentence.

So the rich can buy their way out.

Exclusion from what?

Fines from who? How can the government enforce a fine without law to back it up, meaning non-payment would be an offence?

Good point @Piggywaspushed . Rhe NHS needs bright young people not just as doctors but in every area especially tech. They would need to be able to do it at 16 rather than 18.

I don't think it's an awful idea. It would need flexibility and choice. A month in the summer after A levels might suit some, 18 might not be the right age for all, military only appeals to a few but again some military careers paths are very competitive.

If exclusions were applied it would in the context of refusing a business licence or making you ineligible student finance for Uni.

I don’t know, I am not privy to the policy! I was just thinking out loud about the disposals we currently have in place.

I am only speculating as well. Put my Tory hat on…lots of ideas spring to mind to coerce 18yr olds..