AIBU to think no one agrees with conscription. Does Rushi want to loose the election? This feels like a threat not and election promise?

[Catchlock]

This has been popping up on my SM overnight. I feel like Rushinis doing his best to throw this election.

Who exactly thinks Conscription is a good idea and how would it work??

Just seen this. Labour were going to win anyway but now there’s no question.

i said on another thread the Tories would try and scare us - stage 1 complete !

I think our young people would benefit from some structured "military style" learning.

So they either remain in full-time education, apprenticeship, work or one of the militarys.

Too many children are being dragged into countylines, gangs and being stabbed, we need to give them something to aspire to.

And no it doesn't mean they will go off and kill people...

Military discipline will do this generation of teenagers, the world of good.
I'm not voting Tory either.

Why?

There will be a demographic, hopefully a small one, who think the youth of today have no respect and national service will help discipline them.

I read that this morning and laughed. The demographic this will appeal to is very clear. The comments section in The Times is pretty scathing. I actually think, having read about the nordics that there might be something in having everyone trained in first aid or electronics but announcing this now is designed to rile people up. I wasn't voting tory anyway so makes no difference to me.

What about the thousands and thousands of kids who would be starting university or apprenticeships and doing part-time jobs to fund themselves and save for the future? The government needs to actually do something to specifically target problems such as county lines and gangs, not this.

I think it could e really good for young people, depending of what the conscription year involves of course.

another good reason not to vote tory.

It’s just signalling to potential Reform voters. It’s not a full policy in any sense (the only thing that has been announced is that they would set up a Royal Commission to work out how to do it).

I’d say in an echo chamber like mumsnet or people’s Facebook feeds it may seem crazy but I’ll bet there is a significant older majority (who it won’t affect!) who think it would do the”youth of today” a world of good to learn some respect etc. The “grey vote” has always been significant.

What do you mean by military discipline'? Being organised or on time or committed or hard working? If so I've taught my own children those things because I'm a fucking parent. If it means someone with a power fetish shouting at and scaring at 18 year olds in some ridiculous effort to relive WWII then count us out.

I mean what could go wrong? No one ever heard of bullying or ill treatment of new recruits in the armed forces did they?

Oh and I get that we need them and that there's a shortage of recruits but conscription is a truly terrible idea. Also hilarious that Sunak has thought over the weekend that this might be a good direction for his campaign. Has he done any military service or voluntary work himself?

When the Tories do a Project Fear, they really go all out, I have to say. First, releasing this whole “Prepare” campaign at the same time as announcing the election, then allowing for shite like that thread we had yesterday, “Well all the markets are suddenly requesting FOUR weeks of stock instead of TWO!” Yeah, either because of Brexit shite that the Tories can no longer put off or because “Prepare” will cause panic buying.

And now conscription, when he’s announced an election already. PUSH THE ‘DISASTER IS COMING’ RHETORIC A BIT HARDER, RISHI, M8! We didn’t hear you in the back!

Fucking Tory crap.

It smacks of desperation.

There will be around 650,000 18 year olds when this is launched and they are only talking about 30,000 military places.

This means that the NHS, charities etc will need to find something to do for thousands of 18 year olds who don't want to be there and have no relevant experience. I've managed volunteers and it's hard enough when they do want to help!

I guarantee there's no money for the organisation of the civic aspect. Just public and third sector being asked to more and more with no money.

I don't agree with it of course but I think you'd be surprised at how many people will - silently, not wanting to be attacked or criticised for it - support it.

I was in the pub last night and the next table over - about 15 people - all thought it was a great idea.

People who believe what they read about unemployed 'benefit scroungers', teenage mums, woke and trans agenda, young asylum seekers and refugees and are appalled at protests such as those for Gaza, or who have to run a gauntlet of balaclavad young people every time they go to the shops, will think it's a great idea to kick them up the bum and teach them a work ethic and some respect.

I don't agree but that was the gist of what I was hearing last night.

It'll be watered down surely - only if you're not at university or in paid employment.

Of course the cost of actually administering this would be prohibitive but why let that stand in the way of a good Tory dog whistle?

YABU to think no-one wants it though- it definitely appeals to the people who want to go back to the ‘good’ old days, to make Britain great again…

(I saw on social media that Sunak is going to quit to be replaced by Cameron pre election- who know if that’s true, but I do think he’s given up and is busy planning his life in the US)

I'd rather the funding went to schools. Have the army work with schools and provide activities and a pathway to the forces if you want, but forced conscription is a no-no from me. Guess this makes my mind up to vote labour 🤷‍♀️

What strange, strange man sunak is. First the maths, now this. WE WANT DENTISTS!

Obviously this doesn’t extend to Northern Ireland or else Rishi may just accept he’s united ireland

This.

The older Tory voters of Norfolk and Suffolk will most likely love this. I wouldn’t under estimate how popular this will be.

It's actually a choice of military service OR 25 days' community volunteering.

It's irrelevant anyway - the Tories know they won't actually be able to enact any of these policies.

The ethos of volunteerism is positive, but there's no way the Conservatives would implement it effectively, because they're twats who act like the ills of society are somehow down to the general public and not the result of deepening austerity, a global pandemic, climate emergency and global conflict.

You're poor? Just work harder!
Disabled? Just work harder!
Anxiety? Definitely your fault, work harder!

I'd also add in that without doing national service you won't be entitled to state pension and that as well as 18 year olds that 65 year olds have to do it too

If it's beneficial to youngsters it's surely beneficial to elders too...

Well I've had a look on the Daily Mail and most of the comments think it is a crazy idea.

Do I think the policy as proposed has any real chance of being implemented, even if by some miracle the Conservatives staying power? Absolutely not.

But do I think some kind of compulsory national service designed to instill or reinforce a sense of civic responsibility is a good idea in principle? Yes absolutely.

Properly funded (and it would cost a fortune) so that those taking part were properly supervised and kept busy with meaningful work, this could be transformational for those involved and the wider country.

Obviously the military would only be one strand available, prob only for those who chose it, with NHS, Police, Fire, Civil Service, Local Councils etc being other more likely options.

I think that they don’t want to win. They know the country is fucked and as they are the ones in power right now they know exactly how fucked.
They are hoping that they will skip out of the door leaving the utter shit show for labour to sort out. Then when they can’t turn it around in 5 years, which no one would be able to do, they can crow about how crap labour are.