Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that under the plan, eighteen-year-olds will either serve in the military for a year or take up weekend volunteering roles with local emergency services or charities as part of the Tories’ proposal to reintroduce national service.
This policy announcement is the first major one from either side in anticipation of the upcoming July 4 General Election called earlier this week.
With ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the idea of conscription has re-entered debates across Europe.
Mr. Sunak emphasized that this plan aims to unite society in an increasingly uncertain world, providing young people with a shared sense of purpose.
According to the Conservative Party, teenagers can choose to join the forces and engage in activities like logistics, cyber security, procurement, and civil response operations.
Alternatively, they can opt for volunteering roles within local fire, police, and NHS services, or with charities focusing on addressing loneliness and supporting isolated elderly individuals for one weekend a month.
The party plans to establish a royal commission to develop a proposal ensuring the first pilot is open for applications by September 2025.
They also intend to introduce a new “National Service Act” to make these measures compulsory by the end of the next Parliament, although there will be no criminal sanctions for non-participation, clarified Home Secretary James Cleverly.
Mr. Sunak justified the plan in a video on social media, citing the need to address a future that is more perilous and divided, with democratic values under threat.
He highlighted that 80 percent of young people who completed National Service in Sweden would recommend it to their peers, emphasizing the benefits to both the country and its youth.
Touring broadcast studios, Mr. Cleverly reassured that the scheme would accommodate various attitudes and aspirations without imposing criminal consequences.
The Tories estimate an annual cost of £2.5 billion by the end of the decade, with plans to fund £1 billion through tax avoidance and evasion crackdowns.
The remaining £1.5 billion will come from reallocating funds previously allocated to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support charities and community groups.
Mr. Sunak criticized Labour’s lack of a clear plan and bold action, while a Labour spokesperson countered, highlighting the Tories’ hollowing out of the armed forces and calling for a new direction with Labour.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Richard Foord MP criticized the Tories for defense cuts, advocating for reversing these cuts to enhance the professional armed forces.
This report includes contributions from PA Media.
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