Tory minister lashes out over National Service plan in blow to Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak’s National Service woes have mounted after a Tory minister claimed the controversial plan had been “sprung” on unsuspecting MPs.

Steve Baker vented his frustration amid questions over the impact of the PM’s plan on Northern Ireland. Just days earlier, MOD minister Andrew Murrison had said there were no plans to bring in National Service.

Northern Ireland minister Mr Baker said he and fellow senior Tories hadn’t been consulted about Mr Sunak’s surprise announcement that he wanted to bring in the controversial measure. Instead he stated it had been developed by “a political adviser or advisers” and hinted he wasn’t onboard. It means Mr Sunak will now have to decide whether to sack the minister.

Last week the PM announced that all 18-year-olds will be forced to take part in his proposed new programme. Young people would 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.

Northern Ireland minister Mr Baker wrote on Twitter /X that the move isn’t Government policy which had been backed by ministers. He said: “I don’t like to be pedantic but a Government policy would have been developed by ministers on the advice of officials and collectively agreed. I would have had a say on behalf of NI. But this proposal was developed by a political adviser or advisers and sprung on candidates, some of whom are relevant ministers.”

In a blog post the Wycombe MP – who is defending a majority of less than 5,000 – distanced himself further from the plan, stating: “Candidates are not involved and even relevant secretaries of state are taken by surprise when policy is announced. It is perhaps the worst aspect of the democratic process and I have no reason to think it is not common to the Labour party.

“In that context, before any more policy is announced, I want to be absolutely clear where I stand for the electors of Wycombe: I am for liberty under the rule of law and Parliamentary democracy.” He went on: “My team and I continue to prepare for a full and robust campaign in Wycombe. Alas that we do not know what will be in the manifesto. I have no doubt it will contain measures of which I disapprove.”

In the latest twist Tory minister Anne- Marie Trevelyan refused to rule out fining parents if their adult kids don’t attend. Quizzed if mums and dads could face fines, she said: “I’m not going to write the detailed policy now. That’s what a royal commission programme of works will be for.”

And she went on to claim that failing to take part could harm a young person’s job prospects. She said: “This will be encouraged and will become part of the norms. Importantly, of course, when you then as a young person apply for a job, there will be a question that employers will want to know how you got involved – either because were able to achieve one of the 30,000 places (in the armed forces) or because you were volunteering in one or other part of your community.”

Mr Sunak’s surprise policy announcement came just days after Tory minister Mr Murrison said the Government had no intention of bringing back National Service, and outlining the case against it. In a written answer on May 23, he wrote: “If potentially unwilling National Service recruits were to be obliged to serve alongside the professional men and women of our Armed Forces, it could damage morale, recruitment and retention and would consume professional military and naval resources. If, on the other hand, National Service recruits were kept in separate units, it would be difficult to find a proper and meaningful role for them, potentially harming motivation and discipline.”