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??

"Bagwyllydiart · Today 06:53

Tie the completion of the military or civil work to the right to vote. You shouldn’t have the right to choose who governs the country unless you have served the country."

Sure. For everyone then. Not just youngsters. After you!

Imagine the outcry if the pledge was to force retirees to do something whether they wanted to or not.

The military don't want them.

Apart from the fact the military think this a bad idea, I would love to know how they are going to "encourage" employers and universities to give preference to people who have done military service.

I can re you now as a mother of 3 my children absolutely would not benefit. As a teacher, some children would, literally like 2 out of each class I teach. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard and if enough people who experienced national service previously were still alive I'm sure we could find plenty who were completely traumatised by it. Pretty sure my dad (who missed out by a few years) would have been broken by it and he was a firefighter for 30 years!

Military service is not a substitute for better child mental health services, better SEND provision, investment in education, curriculum reform and better parenting.

Not saying any political party will bring those but they are far better solutions to issues in society.

It's a desperate attempt to get the "Daily Express" vote which, I assume, they think will desert the Tories and vote Reform.

One senior Admiral has already called the idea "Bonkers" and a senior General "Electoral opportunism."

OK. So you lose your right to vote, then?

Okay that should apply to anyone over 18.

Just looking at the other countries that have national service and I can't see anywhere where it only applies to 18 year olds. I wonder why Sunak isn't suggesting that all able bodied people should do this rather than only people who are not yet old enough to vote.🤔

I am also not sure if he knows what a volunteer is if he thinks it is something people can be forced to do.

I wonder why Sunak isn't suggesting that all able bodied people should do this rather than only people who are not yet old enough to vote.🤔

I fucking know why!

Ffs no, what a ridiculous idea. Not because I think what about these precious children but I don't want money wasted on sending sweet innocent Toby(who wouldn't last 5 minutes as he isn't as sweet as his mum thinks) to military training when it can be spent on those who actually want to do it.

When the likes of General Dannatt think it's a bad idea you know it's a bad idea. I have a lot of respect for him (I remember when his expenses came out and he was feeding dignitaries on Tesco value chicken 😂), he seems a no nonsense kind of guy who isnt afraid and never has been of telling the government what he thinks. He's also against the Rwanda flights.

It’s such a bizarre strategy. They are clearly going after the Brexit/reform vote but will alienate many of their own voters.

I have voted Conservative in the past but couldn't vote for them with this policy in place.

Random people volunteering to work for the NHS or other sectors for free really means more stress for other people.
People like the cleaners and the porters constantly directing untrained individuals to do their jobs.

Also if you have an untrained 18 yo who doesn't want to be there would you really trust them to clean the toilets properly? Or take Mra Smith to the correct ward?

Not to mention young people who are in education during the week, Need their weekends to earn money, in pubs and night clubs.

As much as the old.YTS scheme had its flaws it certainly helped lots of young people get a toe on the working ladder. It would make more sense to bring that back.

I think a lot of people are assuming that no young people want to do this and not allowing that some may find this an exciting prospect and get a lot out of it. I was watching the news with my DS22 last night and he was gutted that he might have missed the chance to do a year in the army. He said he would have loved it. Instead he went to university and is now in full time employment. I bet he wouldn't be the only one thinking like that .

People are assuming that noone wants to be forced to do it. If I choose to do something, it doesn't mean I think everyone else of my age should be forced to do it by law.

Then find out whether people signing up for 1 year only would be of sufficient value to the army to justify the expense, and if it does, advocate for that option to exist. Emphasis on 'option'. If it's going to be that popular, there'll be no need for compulsion.

He had a choice when he was 18, he didn't need to go to uni. If he wants to join the army he still could.

What's the point in the army spending time and money training 30,000 soldiers. Spending time and energy getting them fit and knowing how to do the job if they leave after a year?
Is Sunak really thinking we need a bundle of reservists ready to call up?

Would your son be up for that too?

Presumably he has joined the Territorial Army then?

Instead of this rubbish idea why not pledhe to pour more into education including apprenticeships and edication in trades.

If they can find money for this, why not put it towards proper support for military vets?

All these questions? Do any of you have children of that age? Have you asked them? Or are you presuming on their behalf?
Yes, he wouldn't mind being a reservist if he had enjoyed the national service year.
No, he hasn't joined the TA because his life went in a different direction.
Yes, I know the logistics are a separate issue but this post was about not assuming that young people wouldn't want to do this.
As for compulsory - there is a very soft 4 weekends of volunteering as an alternative if a year away is not suitable or wanted.

There are many countries across the world who do have compulsory national service. I doubt it will happen here but something needs to be done about all the out of control feral teenagers that populate our town centres nowadays. Some authority needs to be put back in place, these youths need proper consequences, as there aren't any now. I feel sorry for the parents who struggle to bring their children up to decent citizens when being faced with feral thugs carrying knives, children murdering children, someone needs to be brave enough to get a grip, without the howls of horror from those who live in a nice enclave, with plenty of money, who are cossetted from the reality of life for some people. Some people need a big reality check

Why only a few days ago did a Conservative defence minister himself think this was an awful idea? See attached 🤔

It’s two days a month to a max of, I think, 24 or 26 days.

so basically one day every other week.

Yes, YABU, because you haven't spoken to "everyone", so there's no way you know what "everyone" thinks. Some other countries do have (or have reintroduced) a form of conscription or public service and it appears to work well. Will what Sunak suggested work? No, I don't think it will. Military conscription in particular won't work in the UK because it seems to be such a foreign concept to many people and, as military advisers etc have stated, two of the many problems with it are (i) there's no money for it and (ii) there's no way to mix unwilling, conscripted young people with willing career soldiers without it having a negative impact on everyone. Which leads them back to (i) there's no money to train them separately and, if there were, there's nothing meaningful for unwilling soldiers to do for their 1 year of service.

I do, unfortunately, think there are a lot of people in the UK who would be delighted if the Government forced people on benefits to do some form of public service, just to punish them that bit more. So whilst I don't think the concept would be party-in-the-streets popular, there are a signifcant number who wouldn't protest implementation.

The Conservatives are suggesting National Service @Catchlock , not conscription.