[News] Should we Bring Back National Service? Sunak says YES.

[TomandJerry]

Reform UK has dismissed the pledge as "so desperate".

In a post on X, party leader Richard Tice says the Tories are "putting out unconsidered impractical policy ideas" that the military do not want and did not ask for.

The policy - which James Cleverly said this morning would help young people learn new skills - has come under attack from across the political spectrum.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Reform UK has dismissed the pledge as "so desperate".

In a post on X, party leader Richard Tice says the Tories are "putting out unconsidered impractical policy ideas" that the military do not want and did not ask for.

The policy - which James Cleverly said this morning would help young people learn new skills - has come under attack from across the political spectrum.

The name “Death Tax” finished off Theresa May. Maybe we could rename this “Teenage Slavery”.

 

[Commander]

"Be prepared" my scout leader used to tell us, and I have carried that mantra through my life to great effect. The kids of today are being brain washed by social media many to there detriment. As much a I hate to say it, Sunak may have something here to change this country from those hoodie no hoper kids back into respectful people.

Have to say I agree. As someone who has employed a lot of 19-24 year olds in recent times, so many of them completely lack basic life skills that I had at that age. Them having to do some charity work or clean up some beaches or work with the elderly would do them the world of good. I’d be bang up for my own kids doing it.

I think when people hear the words ‘National Sevice’ they imagine being screamed at by some Drill Sergeant for not having made their bed correctly. But if it was actually done right, and something that would teach them some life skills and build a bit of resilience, I think it could benefit a lot of teenagers.

 

[pb21]

Have to say I agree. As someone who has employed a lot of 19-24 year olds in recent times, so many of them complete lack basic life skills that I had at that age. Them having to do some charity work or clean up some beaches or work with the elderly would do them the world of good. I’d be bang up for my own kids doing it.

Did you do national service? If not, why do you think today's youth lack basic life skills that you had at the same age?

Also, nothing stopping your kids volunteering today, no reason for it to be mandatory.

 

[pocketseagull]

This is obviously stupid to most but the danger is such a desperate idiotic campaign will shift the Overton window further rightwards.

I was working full time at 18, would I have been exempt? If so how would that be checked? What if that meant I was exempt but I quit or got fired?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Have to say I agree. As someone who has employed a lot of 19-24 year olds in recent times, so many of them complete lack basic life skills that I had at that age. Them having to do some charity work or clean up some beaches or work with the elderly would do them the world of good. I’d be bang up for my own kids doing it.

I think when people hear the words ‘National Sevice’ they imagine being screamed at by some Drill Sergeant for not having made their bed correctly. But if it was actually done right, and something that would teach them some life skills and build a bit of resilience, I think it could benefit a lot of teenagers.

But is it a better use of £2.5 billion than paying teachers and doctors properly?

Schools should be teaching resilience and doctors should be dealing with the post pandemic mental health epidemic. Not drill sergeants, litter pickers and vicars. Perhaps if we paid them properly, rethought the curriculum and reduced NHS waiting times they would.

 

[ROSM]

Have to say I agree. As someone who has employed a lot of 19-24 year olds in recent times, so many of them complete lack basic life skills that I had at that age. Them having to do some charity work or clean up some beaches or work with the elderly would do them the world of good. I’d be bang up for my own kids doing it.

I think when people hear the words ‘National Sevice’ they imagine being screamed at by some Drill Sergeant for not having made their bed correctly. But if it was actually done right, and something that would teach them some life skills and build a bit of resilience, I think it could benefit a lot of teenagers.

If you had them and people today don't, the how did you get yours? Was it doing free work for the state or learning to bayonet the hun or commies?

I got mine from being able to balance school/college and work (leaflet delivering, cleaning the school after hours, working in a laundry etc). The pressure today on kids in 6th form has taken that away from some.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Just told my kids (10 and 5), you should have seen their faces

 

[Pevenseagull]

The community for the one month military service option for Eton graduates will be Klosters or Monserrat.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Have to say I agree. As someone who has employed a lot of 19-24 year olds in recent times, so many of them complete lack basic life skills that I had at that age. Them having to do some charity work or clean up some beaches or work with the elderly would do them the world of good. I’d be bang up for my own kids doing it.

I think when people hear the words ‘National Sevice’ they imagine being screamed at by some Drill Sergeant for not having made their bed correctly. But if it was actually done right, and something that would teach them some life skills and build a bit of resilience, I think it could benefit a lot of teenagers.

I didn't need to do National Service to gain my basic life skills, I found the years I spent working full time between 15 and 20 helped me gain them very quickly If some of those youngsters you've employed are straight out of college/Uni and into their first jobs, that may be part of the explanation.

And if you're bang up for getting your kids to to charity work, do it. Both mine have done charity work over the years, a couple of times for quite long periods. My son still remembers how much effect working and chatting to people doing community service as a result of court sentences had on him. They also spent a few years while at College/Uni working part time in shit jobs as a lot of students do and I think both of these helped with basic life skills. Good luck with yours

 

[Berty23]

Have to say I agree. As someone who has employed a lot of 19-24 year olds in recent times, so many of them complete lack basic life skills that I had at that age. Them having to do some charity work or clean up some beaches or work with the elderly would do them the world of good. I’d be bang up for my own kids doing it.

I think when people hear the words ‘National Sevice’ they imagine being screamed at by some Drill Sergeant for not having made their bed correctly. But if it was actually done right, and something that would teach them some life skills and build a bit of resilience, I think it could benefit a lot of teenagers.

This has been said by every single generation. Ever.

In fact a while ago on here I dug out Hansard and showed it was raised in Parliament as a problem over and over the last century.

 

[Berty23]

I should point out. I have three teenage kids.

My 15 year old lad has a paper round he shares with a mate week on and week off. Up before school and at weekends. He also had to give up playing hockey due to a foot issue so he qualified as an umpire so does this for 15 quid a match and also volunteers 3 hours every Sunday morning and 2 hours on Thursday evenings to coach 10-14 year olds.

I have 13 year old twin daughters. One is autistic and struggles with strangers so she helps out where she can with my wife who is a teacher and organises stuff with school. My other one also has a paper round which she does 7 days a week and every week apart from when we are on holiday. Coaches hockey for 90 mins with the younger kids after her session.

My kids are not unusual or special here. Many many kids do the same as this but older generations love to pretend kids don’t get involved. I am mid 40s and thinking back to when I was entering the workforce after uni we all mucked about and drove bosses mad etc. it is what young people do. It is part of growing up. I am always staggered that people forget what them and their peers were like when we were that age. Christ the late 90s was carnage compared to what the kids get up to these days. We were always pissed or off our heads on other stuff. The yoof these days are far better behaved than we were.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Have to say I agree. As someone who has employed a lot of 19-24 year olds in recent times, so many of them complete lack basic life skills that I had at that age. Them having to do some charity work or clean up some beaches or work with the elderly would do them the world of good. I’d be bang up for my own kids doing it.

I think when people hear the words ‘National Sevice’ they imagine being screamed at by some Drill Sergeant for not having made their bed correctly. But if it was actually done right, and something that would teach them some life skills and build a bit of resilience, I think it could benefit a lot of teenagers.

There would only be space in the armed forces for less the 5% of 18 year olds. For the rest, it’d turn into road sweeping or just teens hanging around in public on their phones whilst their handlers tried to find them something useful to do.

When you look at the detail, this is only designed to stoke a culture war and drive division. It’s a cheap political trick intended to give the older generation a chance to have a dig at the younger generation. And judging by this thread, quite a few older folk are doing exactly what the Tories require.

 

[Swimboy64]

ah yes because previous generations were never famed for getting involved in trouble at the footy…

Yes that’s right but the post I replied to was asking for current examples of entitlement
Oh course Hillsborough Heysel are terrible examples of the previous generations entitlement

 

[Colonel Mustard]

I am also a consensus guy.

Which is why Starmer's total lack of simple solutions (billed as 'absolutely no plans, no policies and no ideas) by the shouty right, is so appealing.

@Harry Wilson's tackle — you have many sterling qualities old man, but an enthusiasm for consensus doesn’t seem high on the list.

 

[macbeth]

Yes that’s right but the post I replied to was asking for current examples of entitlement
Oh course Hillsborough Heysel are terrible examples of the previous generations entitlement

oh right i’m with you now, apologies

 

[BadFish]

And from what other groups that you disagree with should the vote be taken away? It must be awful for you to vote and find your choice does not prevail.

We are 1-1 at the moment aren't we?

But yes, I was furious about Boaty McBoat Face.

 

[hart's shirt]

The community for the one month military service option for Eton graduates will be Klosters or Monserrat.

To be fair, those basic rations of venison steak aren't going to eat themselves.

"Some folks are born silver spoon in hand
Lord, don't they help themselves, Lord?
But when the taxman come to the door
Lord, the house lookin' like a rummage sale, yeah
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no millionaire's son, no, no
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no fortunate one, no"

 

[Pavilionaire]

I'll turn the argument on its head and make a different point and that is the hypocrisy of telling the young they should be compelled to do unpaid "voluntary" work while a whole raft of people 55+ with time on their hands do nothing for their community.

Up and down the country voluntary organisations, committees, parish councils are looking for people to help but it is the same old faces filling multiple roles to put on community events and run local groups.

On a personal level I am a working accountant with 2 teenagers and yet fill a number of unpaid auditor roles and EVERY organisation I deal with has problems with getting a treasurer, and yet there will be a stack of local people retired or semi- retired who could undertake that roll but choose not too.

So let's not pretend it is just the young who need to engage with their community more.

 

[Berty23]

I'll turn the argument on its head and make a different point and that is the hypocrisy of telling the young they should be compelled to do unpaid "voluntary" work while a whole raft of people 55+ with time on their hands do nothing for their community.

Up and down the country voluntary organisations, committees, parish councils are looking for people to help but it is the same old faces filling multiple roles to put on community events and run local groups.

On a personal level I am a working accountant with 2 teenagers and yet fill a number of unpaid auditor roles and EVERY organisation I deal with has problems with getting a treasurer, and yet there will be a stack of local people retired or semi- retired who could undertake that roll but choose not too.

So let's not pretend it is just the young who need to engage with their community more.

I know lots of people in their early 60s with a fantastic pension who all feel they have done their bit by working so why should they? They are now enjoying the fruits of their hard work and living in a 5 bed house that cost them 40k and is now worth 850k. They worked hard for that house and capital growth. The young need to stop complaining about the prospect of having to work 12 consecutive days once a month (with two of them unpaid) and suck it up.