May 25th 2024.
If the Conservative party emerges victorious in the upcoming General Election, teenagers will be required to serve in the military for a period of 12 months. This announcement was made by Rishi Sunak, a member of the party, who stated that 18-year-olds would have to partake in a form of national service if the Tories were re-elected on July 4.
According to the Prime Minister, there are many young individuals in Britain who have not had the opportunities they deserve. He believes that this radical measure will help unite society, especially in an increasingly uncertain world. The proposed plan gives 18-year-olds a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for a year or volunteering in their community for one weekend each month for a year.
In an attempt to appeal to older voters, the Conservative party has emphasized that the volunteer work could involve assisting local emergency services and charities that focus on issues such as loneliness and supporting the elderly. This move also serves as a clear differentiation from the Labour party's stance on global security, as the Prime Minister has promised to increase defense spending to 2.5% of the GDP by 2030.
Rishi Sunak further emphasized the potential risks that Britain would face if the Labour party were to take over, claiming that their leader, Sir Keir Starmer, lacks a plan and would leave the country vulnerable to its enemies. As part of the proposed national service, teenagers who choose to join the armed forces would have the opportunity to learn and participate in various areas such as logistics, cyber security, procurement, and civil response operations.
For those who are unsure about the upcoming General Election, Metro offers a new politics newsletter, "Alright, Gov?", that provides a weekly breakdown and analysis of the battle for No 10 in a straightforward and easy-to-read manner. Interested individuals can sign up to receive the newsletter directly in their inbox or join the WhatsApp group for daily updates on the election.
The Conservative party plans to establish a royal commission that will include experts from the military and civil society to design the national service program. They believe that this program will create a sense of shared purpose among young people and instill a renewed sense of pride in the country. The party aims to have the first pilot of the program open for applications in September 2025 and make the measures compulsory by the end of the next Parliament.
The estimated cost of the program is £2.5 billion per year by the end of the decade, which will be funded through a crackdown on tax avoidance and evasion, as well as using funds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which supports charities and community groups. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of this initiative, stating that it will provide life-changing opportunities for young people to learn essential skills, try new things, and contribute to their community and country.
In response to the Conservative party's announcement, Sir Keir's party criticized it as another desperate and unfunded commitment. They also pointed out that a similar scheme, the National Citizen Service, was introduced by former Prime Minister David Cameron, which did not involve the armed forces and instead focused on outdoor education-style courses as part of his "Big Society" initiative. A Labour spokesperson stated that the Tories have no plans to end the chaos that has plagued the country for the past 14 years, and it is time to rebuild Britain with Labour at the helm.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
