Minister rejects Rishi Sunak’s national service pledge last week

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s controversial proposal to reintroduce compulsory national service in the UK has sparked a heated debate within the government. The plan, which includes assigning up to 30,000 18-year-olds to the military, was met with resistance from one of Sunak’s own defence ministers, Andrew Murrison.

Murrison raised concerns about the potential negative impact on morale, recruitment, and resources if “potentially unwilling national service recruits” were forced to serve alongside professional armed forces. He emphasized that there were no current plans to revive national service, which was abolished in 1960.

Despite the pushback, Sunak has made the policy a central part of the Conservative election manifesto, aiming to attract older, more traditional voters. Under the proposed scheme, teenagers would be required to carry out 25 days of unpaid work in the community, with some also serving in the armed forces or cyber security for a year.

While Sunak’s plan has garnered support from some former military commanders, there is skepticism within the military ranks. One Army officer expressed concerns that the proposal could make the regular army less effective for years to come.

The funding for the £2.5 billion-a-year national service plan has also come under scrutiny, with Labour criticizing the diversion of funds from the post-Brexit “shared prosperity” regional aid fund. The Northern Powerhouse Partnership condemned the idea of using these funds, arguing that it would further exacerbate disparities between northern and southern communities.

As the debate rages on, the future of national service in the UK remains uncertain, with both supporters and critics voicing their opinions on the controversial proposal.