Rishi Sunak defends his ‘bold’ National Service plan for teenagers amid a Tory election campaign row as it is branded ‘political suicide’ by party members and sparks backlash from minister who says it was ‘sprung’ on them with no warning
Rishi Sunak tonight defended his ‘bold’ plan to make teenagers do National Service amid a deepening Tory election campaign row over the policy.
The Prime Minister said the policy, which will see 18-year-olds forced to either sign up to the military or cyber defence force, or undertake unpaid community work, would make society ‘more cohesive’ and strengthen the UK’s defence.
Speaking on a campaign visit to Buckinghamshire he said it was ‘bold, but that’s the kind of leadership I offer.’
He added: ‘This modern form of national service will mean that young people get the skills and the opportunities that they need which is going to serve them very well in life.
‘It’s going to foster a culture of service which is going to be incredibly powerful for making our society more cohesive and in a more uncertain and dangerous world it’s going to strengthen our country’s security and resilience.’
But the £2.5billion manifesto pledge, which could see parents fined if their adult children fail to take part and members of the Royal Family told to sign up, prompted criticism as well as support from within Tory ranks
Some party members questioned the logic of landing the Armed Forces with ‘a bunch of yobbos’ and ‘unfit reluctant teenagers’.
And others threatened to move their support at the election to Reform UK because of the effect the policy could have on their own teenage children.
The remarks were made in a Conservative Party Facebook group that includes several serving MPs, though they were not among the critics speaking out.
Meanwhile Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland Minister, broke ranks today to suggest the policy unveiled at the weekend was ‘sprung’ on candidates with little or no warning.