UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledges mandatory National Service for 18-year-olds if he wins general elections

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to bring back mandatory National Service for 18-year-olds if his ruling Conservative Party wins the general elections scheduled to take place on July 4. The Prime Minister said his new initiative would help young individuals learn “real world skills, do new things and contribute to their community and our country”.

The opposition Labour Party, however, has termed the move, which is estimated to cost about 2.5 billion British pounds, “another desperate unfunded commitment” from the country’s ruling Conservatives, the BBC reported.

The National Service was introduced in 1947 by the then Labour Party government led by former Prime Minister Clement Atlee. Under the service, which came into force in 1949, all physically fit young men aged between 17 and 21 had to mandatorily serve in the armed forces for 18 months.

The scheme ended in 1960, though periods of deferred service still had to be completed. The last national servicemen were discharged in 1963.

In a statement, the Conservative Party said the teenagers “could choose a full-time, 12-month placement in the armed forces or UK cyber defence, learning about logistics, cybersecurity, procurement or civil response operations”.

Meanwhile, they would also have a second option, which is to volunteer one weekend per month, or 25 days per year, in their community with the fire and police departments, as well as the National Health Services.

On Saturday evening, Sunak said, “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.”

“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,” he added.

The Conservative Party also said that the initiative would provide “valuable work experience” and “ignite a passion for a future career in healthcare, public service, charity or the armed forces”.

Meanwhile, a Labour Party spokesperson slammed the move and 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.”

“Britain has had enough of the Conservatives, who are bankrupt of ideas, and have no plans to end 14 years of chaos. It’s time to rebuild Britain with Labour.” the Guardian quoted the spokesperson as saying.

Also criticising the scheme, Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Richard Foord said: “If the Conservatives were serious about defence, they would reverse their damaging cuts to our world-class professional armed forces, instead of decimating them, with swingeing cuts to the number of our regular service personnel.”

“Our armed forces were once the envy of the world. This Conservative government has cut troop numbers and is planning more cuts to the size of the Army,” the BBC quoted Foord as saying.