Moment scholar’s try to confront Rishi Sunak backfires

This is the moment Rishi Sunak told a student confronting him about National Service ‘you’ll love it’ after the teenager asked him ‘why do you hate young people so much?’ 

In footage posted on social media, the Prime Minister is seen chatting in the Drew Arms pub when he is approached by 16-year-old Henry Hassell. 

In the video, which has gone viral on TikTok, Mr Sunak assumes Henry wants a photo before the teenager says: ‘I was just going to ask, why do you hate young people so much? You’re making us go into the Army.’ 

The Prime Minister replies: ‘No, no, you’ll have a choice.’ 

Appearing to handle the situation well, Mr Sunak adds: ‘You’ll love it.’ 

The Prime Minister is seen chatting in the Drew Arms pub when he is approached by 16-year-old Henry Hassel

The teenager says: ‘I was just going to ask, why do you hate young people so much?’ 

Henry Hassell is a 16-year-old aspiring musician who posts on TikTok 

Henry is a 16-year-old indie singer/songwriter who first started performing at seven-years-old 

Henry, of Devon, says: ‘I’ve volunteered all my life. Why do I have to do it again when I’m finally coming out of education and I’m stuck back in it again?’ 

While walking away from the teenager Mr Sunak replies: ‘I wouldn’t view it like that. A culture of service is a good thing for our country.’ 

It comes after the Prime Minister pledged to make teenagers do National Service in a policy that will see 18-year-olds forced to either sign up to the military or cyber defence force, or undertake unpaid community work. 

He argued the move would make society ‘more cohesive’ and strengthen the UK’s defence. 

Henry is a 16-year-old indie singer/songwriter who first started performing at seven-years-old. 

Mr Sunak today attended Burrs Country Park during a Conservative general election campaign event in Bury. 

Since announcing that the UK General Election will be held on July 4, the Prime Minister has kicked off his six-week campaign period in Derbyshire and has visited key battleground regions across the UK.

Mr Sunak with James Daly, the Conservative candidate for Bury North, holding ice creams at Burrs Country Park

The Prime Minister with James Daly, the Conservative candidate for Bury North

Mr Sunak was facing mounting woes today as he attempted to keep the Conservatives’ general election campaign on track.

The PM suffered a blow when Aaron Bell, who was Tory MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme until Parliament was dissolved this week, said he won’t be standing on July 4.

Mr Bell announced his bombshell decision despite having joined Mr Sunak on the campaign trail in Stoke-on-Trent just days ago.

In a second setback for the PM, a former Tory MP who lost the whip over sexual assault claims performed a U-turn and said he would now stand as an independent.

Julian Knight was the Conservative MP for Solihull from 2015 to 2022.

He was stripped of the party whip in December 2022 after it was revealed he was being investigated by police over a claim of serious sexual assault.

Mr Knight previously said he would not seek re-election in his constituency, but he today announced he would stand against the Tories in the West Midlands seat.