The Conservative Party has outlined its intention to reintroduce national service if it wins the forthcoming general election. The party plans to offer 18-year-olds the choice of either full-time military service or undertaking community service one weekend per month. While a Royal Commission would likely be established to finalise the details of the scheme, provision is already being made for the first cohort of teenagers to begin serving in September 2025 at an estimated annual cost of £2.5bn.
Under Conservative proposals, those opting for full-time service would receive 12 months of training in areas such as cyber security, logistics, civil response operations, and procurement, while those completing community service would work with NHS, fire, and police organisations. The party claims that its proposal will provide valuable work experience and could help divert young people who are unemployed, not in education or training, or those at risk of involvement in the criminal justice system towards careers in areas such as public service, healthcare, charity, or the armed forces.
Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak argues that such a scheme would help create a shared sense of purpose amongst young people while also fostering national spirit in the country. Sunak states that “generations of young people have not had the opportunities or experience they deserve. I have a clear plan to address this and secure our future.” Critics, however, saw the Conservative announcement as little more than an attempt distract from the party’s record of reducing troop numbers.
National service was first introduced in the UK in 1947 by the then Labour government, before being discontinued in 1960. A number of European countries, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden still have some form of conscription. In the UK, cuts to armed forces have seen military numbers fall from over 100,000 in 2010 to around 73,000 by January 2024
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