London: PM Rishi Sunak on Sunday in his poll promise as per a BBC report has vowed to bring back mandatory national service if his party wins the election as the UK prepares itself for General Elections in July this year.
The Conservative Party said the 18-year-old would have the option of entering the military full-time or volunteering one weekend each month to perform community service. Sunak said “I have a clear plan to address this and secure our future. I will bring in a new model of National Service to create a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country”.
“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”, he said. The Conservatives have said that the measure will serve to redirect unemployed young people or not in education or training, as well as those who are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, away from “lives of unemployment and crime”.
As per BBC “According to the party, the move would “ignite a passion for a future career in healthcare, public service, charity or the armed forces”. Calling the move “another desperate £2.5 billion unfunded commitment from a Tory Party”, Labour Party spokesperson said, “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”.
