Rishi Sunak’s National Service plan descended further into chaos today as it emerged one in five armed forces members would be aged 18 if it goes ahead.
The PM’s bid to force 18 year olds into the military or voluntary work would swell the military by 30,000 to 160,000. But it would mean almost 20% of the overall number would be on National Service, raising questions about its effectiveness.
On a difficult day for Mr Sunak, Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker distanced himself from the plan, saying it had been “sprung” on candidates and top Tories without warning. And leaked WhatsApp messages reveal the PM faces a backlash among Tory members – with furious activists saying he “must be stopped”.
To make matters worse, Foreign Office minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan didn’t reject suggestions that parents could be fined if their adult children fail to attend. The shambolic policy launch threatens to further undermine a PM desperately trying to hold his party together.
Just last week the Government maintained it had no intention of bringing in National Service. MOD minister Andrew Murrison even outlined the dangers of bringing in teenage recruits alongside professional servicemen and women.
But at the weekend Mr Sunak announced that all 18-year-olds will be forced to take part in his proposed new programme, which will cost around £2.5billion. 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.
In a sign of a split among high-ranking Tories, Mr Baker responded to concerns about the impact on Northern Ireland by stating: “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.”
And party members were far from impressed. In leaked messages shown to The Mirror, members of the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) warned that Mr Sunak’s attempt to woo voters make him look “out of touch” and dismissed the unexpected policy as a “stunt”.
One CDO member wrote: “What it does smack of is that Sunak is out of ideas and reeks of desperation imo.” And another responded: “IMO the idea of National Service was NOT even on the cards last week. However the think tank came up with this vote winning idea NOT to say that it it is ever going to happen. Sorry just a pre election stunt.”
In a further message, a group member dubbed it a “freak power control policy” and went on: “Honestly, I don’t think Rishi could have said anything else more damaging.” Another said: “Rishi needs to be stopped, he has not one ounce of sense.”
There was confusion over how it would be enforced. Leaked Government memos seen by The Mirror suggested ministers hadn’t ruled out arresting young people who don’t attend their National Service.
Home Secretary James Cleverly appeared to backtrack on Sunday, but Ms Trevelyan didn’t rule out parents being fined if their kids fail to show up. Asked if this would happen, she said: “I’m not going to write the detailed policy now. That’s what a royal commission programme of works will be for.”
Tory deputy chairman James Daly later tried to dampen this idea, claiming Ms Trevelyan “certainly doesn’t have responsibility for this area”. Labour hit out at the confusion. Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth said:“The Tory campaign is in absolute chaos, with more positions on their flagship policy than the Kama Sutra. Now, Tory MPs are arguing among themselves about whether they are going to arrest parents, whether it will apply to Northern Ireland and how much it will cost.
“It is a shambles, total chaos, and the country deserves so much better.” Answering questions on TikTok, Mr Sunak said 18-year-olds who sign up for the military section of his national service plan would be paid a stipend to help with living costs.
He did not say how much this will amount to. The PM said: “As is the case in other countries, we will provide a stipend to help with living costs for those doing the military element alongside their training. Meanwhile, on the civic side, we will make sure organisations have funding for training and administration.”
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.”