Tory plans to roll out national service for 18 year olds are a cheap “gimmick” that fail to address the complex issues facing young Brits, Labour says.
The Conservatives plan to bring back mandatory National Service should they be re-elected. Under the scheme, all Brits of suitable age will have the option of joining the military or volunteering for jobs like building flood defences for one weekend every month. Roles in the NHS, fire service or the police would be among the other voluntary roles, according to the Tories. But Shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall says the announcement is a “headline grabbing” trick that is “unfunded” and fails to address the real issues. .
Speaking to Sky News, she said: “This is an unfunded commitment, a headline-grabbing gimmick, it is not a proper plan to deliver it, it 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.”
It comes after the Lib Dems drew attention to Tory cuts to troop numbers, saying that the money needed to set up the draft would be better spent on replenishing the ranks of the Armed Forces. The solution is meant to be an answer to the ailing British defence system in the face of complex global threats that have surged since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Liberal Democrats defence spokesman Richard Foord MP said: “If the Conservatives were serious about defence, they would reverse their damaging cuts to our world class professional armed forces, instead of decimating them, with swingeing cuts to the number of our regular service personnel. Our armed forces were once the envy of the world. This Conservative government has cut troop numbers and is planning more cuts to the size of the Army. This would be far better spent reversing Conservative cuts to troop numbers.”
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National Service will reform British society, foreign secretary says
Tory plans for national service are mainly aimed at building a society where people “mix outside of their bubble, whether it’s through military service, other uniformed service or non-uniformed”, James Cleverly said.
Speaking to Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips show, the Home Secretary said: “The broader point about this national service is that we want to build a society where people mix with people outside their own communities, mix with people from different backgrounds, different religions, different income levels.
“And some of it is about utility to the armed service. That’s part of it, but the bulk of this is about helping build a cohesive society where people mix outside of their bubble, whether it’s through military service, other uniformed service or non-uniformed.”
Tories backtrack claiming 18 year olds won’t be imprisoned for refusing National Service
James Cleverly said 18-year-olds would not be forced to go to jail if they refuse to carry out “mandatory” national service under Tory plans.
Asked on Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme whether the consequences of resisting the compulsory scheme could involve a prison term, the Home Secretary said: “No, there’s going to be no criminal sanction. There’s no one going to jail over this.”
He said in other countries with similar schemes there is a “very, very wide scope, take-up, acceptance and enthusiasm for this”.
The Conservatives would want to make sure the programme “fits with different people’s attitudes and aspirations”, Mr Cleverly said.
Lib Dems say Tory troop number cuts are to blame for woeful defence record
Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Richard Foord MP said: “If the Conservatives were serious about defence, they would reverse their damaging cuts to our world class professional armed forces, instead of decimating them, with swingeing cuts to the number of our regular service personnel.
“Our armed forces were once the envy of the world. This Conservative government has cut troop numbers and is planning more cuts to the size of the Army.
“This would be far better spent reversing Conservative cuts to troop numbers.”
Tory MP defends national service promise
A senior Conservative has come out to defend Rishi Sunak’s pledged to roll out national service for 18-year-olds.
Tobias Ellwood said he agrees that it shouldn’t only be 18-year-olds and that the scheme should open up for more age groups, adding “you have to start somewhere”.
“We don’t know when this threat will grow. Will it increase? Will it escalate? So as 18-year-olds go through, they are then trained, and then armed – that way they can receive a course very, very quickly and upgrade that,” the former defence committee chair told LBC.
“So all 18-year-olds will then move through this prism, if you like, of training, whether it be civilian or military, to prepare us for the longevity – we’re talking of the next couple of decades when the threat is going to be far, far greater than we’ve seen for the last three decades.
“The West’s ability to manage insecurity across the world has severely been tested already, and this is a wise precaution for the whole of society to recognise that. But I absolutely agree with you – it shouldn’t just be 18-year-olds, but you have to start somewhere.”
Lib Dems to launch battlebus with ‘save the NHS’ message in blue-wall seat
Sir Ed Davey will launch the Liberal Democrats’ battlebus campaign with a “save the NHS” message in a marginal blue-wall seat today.
The UK’s fourth biggest party has put health at the heart of its agenda in the run-up to the July 4 General Election as it targets traditionally Conservative heartlands in southern England.
Sir Ed will say the Tories have left hospitals “with dangerous crumbling roofs” and “sewage pouring into” wards as he makes a manifesto pledge to introduce a 10-year rolling repair programme for the NHS estate.
The Conservatives said the Lib Dems would merely “make way for a Labour government – just like the one already failing the NHS in Wales.”
The Lib Dems see health and the environment – particularly sewage-dumping in Britain’s waterways – as key electoral battlegrounds near the south coast, where they are seeking to make inroads in previously Tory areas.
Similarities to David Cameron scheme?
David Cameron introduced a similar scheme – the National Citizen Service – when he was prime minister.
But Lord Cameron’s announcement had no military component to it, instead encouraging youngsters to take part in activities such as outdoor education-style courses as part of his “Big Society” initiative.
How would National Service work if brought back?
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, the Tories said.
Volunteering could include helping local fire, police and NHS services as well as charities tackling loneliness and supporting elderly, isolated people.
The Conservatives said they would establish a royal commission bringing in expertise from across the military and civil society to establish the details of what they described as the “bold” national service programme.
The party said this 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.
It estimates the programme will cost £2.5 billion a year by the end of the decade and plans to fund £1 billion through plans to “crack down on tax avoidance and evasion”.
The remaining £1.5 billion will be paid for with money previously used for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which is a package to support charities and community groups, the Tories said.
SNP warns of ‘twin threats’ posed by Tories
John Swinney has said the SNP will stand against the “twin threats” of austerity and privatisation, as his party campaigns on public services.
The SNP will seek to focus on investing in the NHS and other public services over the coming week of General Election campaigning.
On Saturday, the First Minister visited several constituencies around Scotland as part of the SNP’s first national “day of action”.
He said the Conservatives and Labour had both embraced austerity.
Mr Swinney said: “Ensuring the NHS remains in public hands will be one of the defining debates of this General Election – and the SNP will do whatever we can to protect Scotland from the creeping privatisation and cuts agenda supported by the Westminster parties.
“I am deeply alarmed at the language that is coming out of Westminster on the health service – and my pledge to the people of Scotland is that the Scottish Government and the SNP will play no part in it.”
Labour slams ‘desperate’ Tory plan to bring back National Service
The Labour Party has said Tory plans to bring back the National Service is “another desperate £2.5bn unfunded commitment.”
A spokesperson said: “This is another desperate £2.5bn unfunded commitment from a Tory Party which already crashed the economy, sending mortgages rocketing, and now they’re spoiling for more.
“This is not a plan – it’s a review which could cost billions and is only needed because the Tories hollowed out the armed forces to their smallest size since Napoleon. Britain has had enough of the Conservatives, who are bankrupt of ideas, and have no plans to end 14 years of chaos. It’s time to turn the page and rebuild Britain with Labour.”
Tories to bring back National Service for 18-year-olds
The Conservative party says it will bring back mandatory national service for 18-year-olds if it wins the general election. It means all 18-year-olds would be forced to choose between joining the military full time for a year or volunteering for jobs like building flood defences one weekend a month. Other voluntary roles would include working for the NHS, fire service or police, the Tories said. It has not yet been confirmed whether the 12-month placement option would be paid.
The party said: “We have so much to be proud of in the United Kingdom, but we also need to be open and honest about the long-term challenges that our country and our society faces. And one of the problems in our society is that we have generations of young people who don’t have the opportunities they deserve.”
The Conservatives say this National Service will provide valuable work experience and ignite a passion for a future career in healthcare, public service, charity or the armed forces. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This is a great country but generations of young people have not had the opportunities or experience they deserve and there are forces trying to divide our society in this increasingly uncertain world.”
Labour says it will prioritise affordable childcare
Shadow Education Bridget Phillipson said fixing the broken childcare system will be her ‘number one priority’ if Labour gets into government at the General Election.
In an interview with the Mirror, she told how early years education “is where you make the single biggest difference to children’s life chances even before they arrive at school”. “It’s how we will make sure that all children, no matter what their background, have every chance to thrive,” she added.
“I’m determined that we’ll put education front and centre of national life once more,” she said. “That’s what I experienced under the last Labour government – the value of education, the impact that had on my life. And I’m determined that as Education Secretary in a Labour government we will do that once more and we’ll renew education, education, education for the next generation of children.”
UNISON backs Labour’s plans for workers’ rights
UNISON has backed Sir Keir Starmer’s package for workers’ rights.
UNISON’s General Secretary Christina McAnea said: “Labour’s new deal best illustrates that choice. It will make work fairer and boost the economy too.” She added its measures are “proving popular on the doorstep” and said that “bad employers” will no longer be able to cut corners and costs by exploiting staff.
She continued: “An end to dodgy zero-hours contracts, paid travel time for care workers and a new fair pay agreement to help boost recruitment in that crisis-stricken sector too. Plus a wave of bringing public service contracts back in-house to end the profiteering in frontline services. Labour is the only party with a plan to help working families.”
It comes after the Unite union criticised Labour’s plans for having “more holes in it than Swiss cheese.” General secretary Sharon Graham said the party was watering down its policies after changing “Labour’s new deal for working people” to “Labour’s plan to make work pay”.
Ed Davey says Lib Dems are ‘way more in tune’ with young people
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey claims the Lib Dems are “way more in tune” with young voters than “any other party.” Speaking in Chichester, Davey highlighted his party’s position on housing, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and their pro-European stance as policies that may be a hit with younger people.
He also welcomed Labour’s promise to reduce the voting age to 16, but said “bolder” reform would be needed to fix the UK’s “broken” political system. Responding to questions about the Lib Dems U-turn in scrapping university fees during the 2010 coalition government, Davey said his party “fought the Conservatives every single day” but “weren’t able to get everything we wanted”. University tuition fees trebled to a maximum of £9,000-a-year from 2012 during the coalition government.
SNP leader comments on colleague’s £11,000 iPad bill
Scottish First Minister John Swinney has stood by his decision to challenge the sanction ordered against former Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, who racked up an £11,000 bill for use of his iPad on a family holiday.
Matheson will be banned from Holyrood for 27 sitting days and will lose his salary for 54 days after he was found to have breached the MSP code of conduct by attempting to use expenses and office costs to cover the bill for a parliamentary iPad.
But SNP leader Mr Swinney said he did not support the sanction as one of its members, Conservative Annie Wells, had previously expressed criticism concerning Mr Matheson’s reasoning for the bill, which Swinney believes prejudiced the decision. He told reporters: “I’m not going to have prejudice taken forward in any part of Scottish life, it shouldn’t happen in the Scottish Parliament.”
Sunak claims Labour government would create a ‘more dangerous world’ in X rant
Rishi Sunak said in a lengthy thread on X that a government led by Keir Starmer would be marked by “uncertainty” and would create a “more dangerous world”.
The PM claimed Labour “doesn’t have a plan”, adding: “Who knows what they would do in government? They won’t tell us how they would fund any of their policies. They refused to meet our defence spending pledge.”
He said an “uncertain future” has consequences. “Our enemies notice. The world becomes more dangerous as they take advantage of our weakness. This leads to higher prices of food and fuel, as well as a greater risk of attacks against our nation.”
Sunak spotted on south London green making speech
The prime minister was spotted on a green in Carshalton, south London, meeting with activists and making a speech. Local MP Elliot Colburn shared images of the PM addressing a small crowd on X, after the Tories were forced to deny the PM was taking a day off from campaigning. Labour’s Stella Creasy MP accused Sunak of having a “duvet day”, as she posted: “Sunak is already in need of a duvet day. Britain is already in need of a different government.”
Fantastic to welcome the Prime Minister @RishiSunak down to #Carshalton & #wallington this afternoon, and to see so many of you out and about
We are ready for the fight, and I hope I can count on your support on July 4th! pic.twitter.com/sgdjZgz7QW
— Elliot Colburn MP (@ElliotColburn) May 25, 2024
Mr Colburn shared images of Rishi Sunak in south London, along with the message: “We are ready for the fight, and I hope I can count on your support on July 4th!”
Labour says UK’s water industry is broken
Labour’s shadow environment secretary, Steve Reed MP, says the UK’s water industry is broken, and accused the Conservatives of “folding their arms and looking the other way.”
Talking about a potential contamination of London’s drinking water, Reed said: “Just days ago, a parasite outbreak was making people sick in Devon, now London’s drinking water may not be safe to drink. The Conservatives just folded their arms and looked the other way while water companies pumped a tidal wave of raw sewage into our rivers, lakes, and seas – putting our nation’s health at risk.
“It’s time for change. A Labour government will put the water companies under tough special measures to end this scandal. We will give the regulator new powers so law-breaking water bosses face criminal charges and see their huge bonuses being blocked until they clean up their toxic filth.”
It comes after dozens reported being unwell with stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea in an area of south-east London, raising fears of a cryptosporidium outbreak in the capital. Samples of Thames Water water were sent off for testing.
Starmer claims senior Tories are ‘getting off the bus because it’s going nowhere’
During a visit to Stafford, the Labour leader was quoted by the Telegraph as saying: “Michael Gove has a reputation for delivery in government. So if he has effectively lost faith in what Rishi Sunak is putting before the electorate it does beg the question as to why the voters should have faith in what Rishi Sunak is putting forward.”
“They have effectively got off the bus, because they don’t think the bus is going anywhere, I do think that’s significant.”
Rachel Reeves says Labour has ‘no plans’ to up taxes on supermarket visit
Rachel Reeves said on a visit to a Fulham branch of Iceland that there were no plans for Labour “to increase taxes.” The shadow minister spoke to workers about the ongoing cost of living crisis and threw a jab at Tory plans for the economy.
Ms Reeves said she wanted to cut taxes for working people, saying they should be “lower,” but said “unlike the Tories”, she would not make promises she can’t keep. When asked if she could rule out national insurance or income tax rising if Labour were to win the election, Reeves said: “I have no plans to increase taxes.”
She added: “We’ve set out the plans that we do have to fund the immediate injection of cash into our NHS and into our schools, but we have no plans beyond that to increase taxes.”
Labour has revealed it would use tax on wealthy non-doms and impose VAT and business rates on private schools to make room for funding our public services.
Ed Davey says Tories have ‘failed’ on water pollution issues
The Conservative party have “failed” Brits on water pollution issues facing the UK, and have let big companies “off the hook”, says Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey. During a campaign trail in Chichester, West Sussex, the party leader said the public are “alarmed” about damage being caused to rivers and seas in the UK.
The Lib Dems recently revealed their plans to abolish the regulator, Ofwat, and introduce one that would help fix the UK’s sewage crisis. Data from the Environment Agency has revealed sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas more than doubled in 2023.
Sunak pictured campaigning in Wimbledon
Rishi Sunak has shared images of himself campaigning in Wimbledon today, after Labour accused the prime minister of taking a day off. The photos, which were posted to X, were accompanied by a message from the PM that reads: “It’s clear what the British people want – bold action and a clear plan. That’s what we will deliver.”
Out talking to people in Wimbledon earlier today.
It’s clear what the British people want – bold action and a clear plan.
That’s what we will deliver. pic.twitter.com/QRXT6CQbLx
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 25, 2024
It comes shortly after Labour accused the prime minister of taking a day off from the campaign and “hiding away in his mansion”. Labour MP Stella Creasy said Mr Sunak was taking a “duvet day”, but a Tory source insisted he was leading “from the front”, with the PM having done 51 interviews since the start of the campaign.
Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth said: “While Rishi Sunak spends today hiding away in his mansion, Liz Truss is yet again reminding voters that he has no control over his party and desperate Jeremy Hunt is making more completely unfunded promises.”
Health experts issue warning as ‘election fever’ could land you in hospital
Health experts have warned that voters could be struck with election fever – and said the condition can even land you in hospital.
According to a new study published in the journal Health Economics, the demand for healthcare services has increased by 19 per cent among first-time voters when major election campaigns happen. Research found that people suffered chest pain, acute respiratory infections and gastro-intestinal during this period. Experts also said some voters reported physical injuries.
Researchers suspected that the symptoms were down to the stress of deciding who to vote for, as well as anxiety caused by political ads during an election campaign. The 2023 study, which examined the health record of 900,000 people during four election periods in Taiwan, referred to the condition as “election syndrome” or “election stress disorder”.
They further explained that voters could become fatigued and suffer from weakened immunity -which could cause issues on election day. The experts said voters are more likely to become infected with contagious diseases as they wait for their turn at polling stations. The study also cited that some people could sustain injuries during busy political events, such as protests or rallies, reports Daily Mail.
EXCLUSIVE: Welsh brewery which lauded Rishi Sunak after General Election visit is owned by a Tory
The brewery which praised Rishi Sunak after he visited for his election campaign is owned by a Tory, we can reveal.
The PM was said to have met “businesses of all persuasions” – with the Welsh brewery lauding himas “impressive” .But we have discovered it is run by a Tory Party member who has even been welcomed to Parliament by a Conservative MP.
It comes after it emerged Sunak took questions on another visit on Thursday from two hi-vis jacket-wearing men who it turned out were Tory councillors. Sunak made a gaffe at the Vale of Glamorgan Brewery in Barry by asking if people were “looking forward to all the football” – despite Wales not qualifying for the Euros.
The business is owned by 42-year-old Craig Edmunds, pictured with the PM, who appears to have previously described himself as a “Technophile, brewery owner, Conservative” on his Facebook profile. At some stage, the word Conservative was removed. However, Edmunds admitted to the Mirror he was a Conservative Party member – saying it was “a massive honour” that Sunak visited.
EXCLUSIVE: Welsh brewery which lauded Rishi Sunak after General Election visit is owned by a Tory
Labour manifesto is ‘ready’ to be published, says shadow chancellor
Labour’s manifesto is ready to be published, according to shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Reeves criticised the government for its “uncosted, unfunded tax cuts” while visiting supermarket workers in west London.
She believes the Tories will repeat mistakes, presenting a mini-budget similar to the one Liz Truss tabled in 2022.
Rachel Reeves slams government’s planned tax cuts
The shadow chancellor has criticised Government’s plans for further “uncosted, unfunded tax cuts” and suggested they would cause a repeat of the mini-budget in 2022.
Speaking on a visit to a supermarket in west London, Rachel Reeves said: “I want taxes on working people to be lower, but the Conservatives have now put forward a number of uncosted, unfunded tax cuts similar to what Liz Truss did just 18 months ago.
“The Conservatives haven’t learned that lesson and putting forward unfunded commitments is something that I would never do, because when you play fast and loose with the public finances, it is ordinary working people that pay the price.
“We saw that with the Conservatives’ mini-budget, the risk of another five years of Conservatives is that they do exactly the same thing all over again.”
Sir Keir wants to give 16 and 17 year olds the vote
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that he plans to promise changes to voter age in the Labour manifesto.
Speaking at Marston Road, the stadium of Stafford Rangers FC, on Saturday morning, he said: “Yes, I want to see both 16 and 17-year-olds. If you can work, if you can pay tax, if you can serve in your armed forces, then you ought to be able to vote.”
Trouble for Sunak in key campaign battleground after migrant figures surge
The number of migrants arriving in small boats has already risen to more than 10,000. One of the key election battlegrounds is expected to be migration.
According to government figures, 288 migrants crossed the Channel on five boats yesterday alone.
PM says he avoided catching pneumonia during dreary General Election announcement
The Prime Minister said he has avoided catching pneumonia after getting wet while speaking outside 10 Downing Street, but admitted he was not sure what state his suit was in.
Rishi Sunak met local ex-servicemen at one of their regular Saturday breakfast meetings in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, in his Richmond constituency.
On a sunny morning, he met the group of eight veterans and sat in the Buck Inn, a Wetherspoons pub on the High Street, where the group were sipping tea and some tucked into breakfasts.
Vicky Rudd, sat next to her husband Doug, from Richmond British Legion, asked Mr Sunak about his health, concerned he might have caught pneumonia “after seeing that picture” of the election announcement speech.
The Prime Minister replied: “It was wet. The number of people who have given me an umbrella over the last couple of days…”
He reflected it was still right to make the announcement in the rain, saying: “When the moments happen, that’s what you do. That’s our tradition, the Prime Minister, in the big moments, they call the election and they go out there.”
Minister rejects suggestion Sunak ‘taking the day off’ amid campaign in Yorkshire
A minister has dismissed suggestions that Rishi Sunak is “taking the day off” as the Prime Minister campaigned in his constituency on Saturday morning.
Mr Sunak met local veterans in Yorkshire at the start of the weekend after completing a whistlestop two-day tour of the UK on Friday, though his plans for rest of the day had been unclear.
Treasury minister Bim Afolami confirmed the PM “will be campaigning” throughout the day as he was questioned about the weekend agenda on Sky News.
Asked whether the PM was “taking the day off” from the campaign trail, Mr Afolami told Sky News: “It’s not right. He’s going to be campaigning in Yorkshire.”
Asked whether Mr Sunak has lots of events planned, he said: “I don’t know what he’s got planned but I know he’s campaigning in Yorkshire today.”
The Prime Minister had a breakfast with local ex-servicemen in a Wetherspoons in Northallerton, in his Richmond constituency, on Saturday morning.
PM touches down in Yorkshire for campaign meeting at Wetherspoons
After being accused of spending his first campaign weekend in bed, Rishi Sunak headed to Yorkshire for a meeting at a Wetherspoons pub.
Sunak met with ex-servicemen at The Buck Inn, where he refused to eat while the six attendees tucked into large breakfasts. Instead he just continued sipping his tea.
One attendee at, Vicky Rudd, asked Mr Sunak about his health. She feared he might have caught pneumonia when he called for the General Election in the pouring rain.
He replied: “It was wet. The number of people who have given me an umbrella over the last couple of days…”
He believes it was the correct time to make the announcement, saying: “When the moments happen, that’s what you do. That’s our tradition, the prime minister, in the big moments, they call the election and they go out there.
“I thought, come rain or shine, it’s the right thing to do. But no pneumonia yet – my suit on the other hand…
“I’m not quite sure what state it will be in when I get back down to London.”