Rishi Sunak fights again after his National Service plan is ridiculed

On May 27, 2024

Published: 22:34, 26 May 2024 | Updated: 00:40, 27 May 2024

Rishi Sunak was forced to defend his National Service programme last night.

Amid unanswered questions about the details of the plan and how it would work, the Prime Minister assured voters that it would open doors for teenagers that they wouldn’t otherwise get through.

The policy announcement sparked a heated debate over the weekend – with Labour branding it ‘desperate’ and even some Conservatives worried that it was akin to a ‘grown-up Boy Scouts’. But others in the party backed the PM, as did former defence chiefs.

Under the plan, 18-year-olds will be given a choice between a full-time placement in the Armed Forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year volunteering’ in their community.

Last night, it was revealed that teenagers would be incentivised to sign up for the scheme with fast-tracked interviews for graduate schemes in both the private and public sectors, and the opportunity to highlight National Service on their UCAS applications to help them getting into university.

Under the plan, 18-year-olds will be given a choice between a full-time placement in the Armed Forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year volunteering’ in their community

The policy announcement sparked a heated debate over the weekend – with Labour branding it ‘desperate’

How ministers rubbished Rishi’s scheme only last week

A Tory defence minister rejected the prospect of National Service just two days before the Tories announced they would introduce it if they win the election.

Andrew Murrison said there were ‘no plans’ to introduce the policy, adding that it could damage morale if ‘potentially unwilling’ recruits were forced to serve alongside Armed Forces personnel.

Rishi Sunak announced over the weekend plans to make 18-year-olds take part in a form of ‘mandatory’ National Service, either on a 12-month placement in the military or by doing volunteer work. But just two days beforehand, Mr Murrison, responding to a written parliamentary question on behalf of the Government, expressed opposition to any restoration of National Service.

In the statement – published on Thursday, after Mr Sunak had called the election – the minister also said that if recruits were kept apart from regular forces, it would be difficult to find meaningful roles for them, ‘potentially harming motivation and discipline’. He added: ‘There are no current plans for the restoration of any form of National Service.’

Under the plan, 18-year-olds will be given a choice between a full-time placement in the Armed Forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year

The Tories would also encourage employers to consider those who complete the Armed Forces placement during job applications.

However, the Armed Forces option would be selective – with only around 30,000 placements for ‘the brightest and best’.

Studies from Norway and Israel, which have national military service schemes, suggest they give youngsters a ‘leg up’ into subsequent careers, the Tories said.

The Conservatives have promised to establish a Royal Commission, bringing in expertise from across the military and civil society to establish the details of the programme. It will be asked to look at models in other countries to design incentives for those taking part in Britain.

The party said the commission would be tasked with bringing forward a proposal for how to ensure the first pilot is open for applications in September 2025.

After that, it would seek to introduce a new ‘National Service Act’ to make the measures compulsory by the end of the next Parliament, the party said.

Mr Sunak said last night: ‘National Service schemes in countries around the world show just how fulfilling it is for young people. We want to make sure Britain’s future generations can get the most out of National Service, that’s why we’re looking into ways it can open doors they wouldn’t otherwise get in work or education.’

But last night the Tories refused to comment on any of the rumoured sanctions for teenagers who refuse to take part – despite the party’s insistence the scheme would be ‘mandatory’.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said the plans were aimed at getting young people ‘out of their bubble’ but would not involve the threat of criminal sanctions.

The Tories would also encourage employers to consider those who complete the Armed Forces placement during job applications

Labour’s work and pensions spokesman Liz Kendall branded the ‘unfunded’ plan a ‘headline-grabbing gimmick’.

She said the proposal ‘doesn’t deal with the big challenges facing young people who are desperate to get the skills and qualifications they need to get good jobs, to have a home they can call their own’.

Senior Tories also criticised it, with a former Cabinet minister saying the proposal appeared to have been ‘rushed out’, and should have been ‘better communicated’.

But Miriam Cates, co-chairman of the New Conservatives, backed it, saying National Service would boost the UK’s ‘sense of national identity and cohesion’ and ‘bring the generations back together’.

Senior Tories also criticised it, with a former Cabinet minister saying the proposal appeared to have been ‘rushed out’, and should have been ‘better communicated’

A senior Tory source said: ‘Yesterday the PM hit the campaign trail two hours before Sir Keir surfaced. Today there is no sign of Starmer whatsoever’

Former head of the Armed Forces, General Lord David Richards, said he thought the proposal was ‘an excellent idea’, which would ‘instil in our well-meaning but often confused younger generation the sense of national purpose and cohesion – of belonging to something bigger than themselves.’

The row came as:

Sir Keir Starmer prepared to make a pitch to undecided voters in a major speech today, telling the public: ‘I will fight for you’;
Mr Sunak hit the campaign trail in north London, accompanied by his wife Akshata Murty;

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed that she would not increase income tax or National Insurance if Labour wins power.
Sir Ed Davey launched the Lib Dems’ campaign, claiming the party is getting its best response from voters ‘for a generation’;
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK honorary president, said he still had ‘one more big card to play’ and confirmed plans to stand as an MP candidate in the future;
Labour vowed to revive Mr Sunak’s plans to ban young people from ever being able to legally smoke after it failed to become law ahead of the election.
Labour and the Tories accused each other of not appearing on the campaign trail at the weekend. On Saturday, Sir Keir’s party said Mr Sunak was ‘hiding away in his mansion’.

But yesterday, the Conservatives made a counter-accusation after Ms Reeves, rather than Sir Keir, gave a stump speech to Labour Party members.

A senior Tory source said: ‘Yesterday the PM hit the campaign trail two hours before Sir Keir surfaced. Today there is no sign of Starmer whatsoever.’