A secret recording has exposed how even Rishi Sunak’s right-hand man is in a muddle over his National Service plan.
Clueless Chancellor Jeremy Hunt piled on more confusion as he suggested 50,000 more teens could be forced into the military than first thought. And to add to the embarrassment, the Tory numbers man even got his own son’s age wrong.
At a meeting on Monday in Godalming in Surrey, where he is standing as a candidate, Mr Hunt suggested one in 10 youngsters would choose to do one year’s military service. But this contradicts what the Tories have previously said – with the party claiming around 30,000, one in 25, would do so.
Labour branded it a “perfect example of the mess this Tory campaign has been”. In the clip Mr Hunt can be heard saying his boss was inspired by the National Service system in Sweden.
(
PA)
He told an audience: “We modelled our proposals on what happens in Sweden. I do think that we have a challenge for young people.” In an awkward stumble he then went on: “My son is 13. [He is] 14 actually. I got my son’s age wrong. He’s 14…”
Trying to get back into his flow he said that 10% of youngsters forced to do National Service would opt to join the military. This would mean 77,500 joining the Armed Forces every year. Latest figures show there were 130,660 full-time, fully-trained members of the military last year.
Mr Hunt said: “The model in Sweden, only 10% of young people choose to do the military option, which is to join the army for a year. That’s what we would expect here.”
It is the latest chaotic moment for the flagship policy, which was launched in May in a desperate attempt to give the Tories a boost. In an excruciating Question Time exchange, Mr Sunak was laughed at as he suggested teens could have their bank cards or driving licences confiscated if they refuse National Service.
If introduced the policy would see youngsters forced to choose between 25 days of voluntary work in their community or joining the military for a year. The Tories claim it would cost £2.5billion to bring in, but analysis of training costs suggested the true figure could be over £5.7billion.
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth said: “The Chancellor of the Exchequer doesn’t understand the flagship policy of the Conservative manifesto, let alone how much it will cost. What a perfect example of the mess this Tory campaign has been.”
Mr Hunt faces a battle to remain in Parliament. A YouGov poll earlier this week suggested he’s on course to lose to the Lib Dems.
In 2018, he faced embarrassment as Foreign Secretary when he mistakenly claimed his wife was Japanese in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart. “My wife is Japanese, my wife is Chinese. That’s a terrible mistake to make,” he said.