Britain's ruling Conservative Party has said it will bring back military or community service if it wins power again in the UK's July 4 general election.
This was announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a publication in The Mail on Sunday. The publication notes that Sunak and his advisers, who drew up the plan, fear a perceived growing threat from the so-called Axis of Authoritarian States, in which London includes Iran, China, North Korea and Russia.
Young people aged 18 will choose to either join the military full-time for 12 months or spend one weekend each month volunteering in their community for a year, according to the plans. Those chosen for the military will "study and take part in logistics, cyber security, procurement or civil response operations", the Tories said.
Volunteering can include helping local fire, police, health services, as well as charities that support lonely and isolated older people, the party added.
The plan assumes that only about 10% of graduates will choose the first option.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the scheme would "create a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country". "This new, compulsory national service will provide life-changing opportunities for our young people, offering them the chance to learn real-world skills, do new things and contribute to their
While Sunak announced the service would be compulsory, his Home Secretary James Cleverley told Sky News on Sunday there would be no criminal penalties for a young person who refuses to take part. The Conservatives, who have been in power since 2010, estimate the scheme will cost around £2.5bn a year, with the first youngsters to be enrolled in the new scheme in September 2025.
Political commentators saw the announcement as a headline-grabbing attempt to draw clear lines between the Conservatives and the main opposition Labor Party, which enjoys a double-digit lead in opinion polls. Labour, led by Keir Starmer, described the announcement as a frivolous, "desperately" unfunded promise from a party "bankrupt on ideas".
In Britain, there was national service between 1947 and 1960, with men aged between 17 and 21 serving in the armed forces for 18 months. Several European countries, including Norway and Sweden, have some form of temporary contract. /BGNES, AFP
