NO ONE will go to prison for avoiding the Tories’ plan for mandatory national service, the Home Secretary revealed today.
Under the proposed scheme, every 18-year-old British man or woman is expected to serve their country for one year.
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Teenagers You will choose between two options – a full-time placement in the Armed Forces or volunteering with charities or community groups.
But unlike previous incarnations of national service, young people will not face criminal charges for refusing to sign up.
Home Secretary James Cleverly told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “There will be no criminal sanctions for this. Nobody goes to jail for that.
“But what we have seen from other countries that have schemes similar to this, particularly the Baltic and Scandinavian countries, firstly, there is actually a very broad acceptance and enthusiasm for this.
“We want to make it attractive. But we also want to make sure it suits people’s aptitudes and aspirations.”
He also confirmed that “no one will be forced” to do military service and that teenagers can volunteer with a charity or community group for one weekend a month.
Cleverly added: “The broader point of this national service is that we want to build a society where people mix with people outside their own communities, mix with people of different backgrounds, different religions, different income levels, and so part Some of this is about usefulness to the military, but most of it is about helping to build a cohesive society where people mix outside of their bubble.”
He suggested that teenagers could help build flood defenses as part of their national service.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised to introduce the mandatory scheme across the country by the end of the year next parliament if he wins the general election.
A Royal Commission will be set up to look at how this would work.
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 uncertain world.
“I have a clear plan to resolve this and ensure our future.
“I will bring a new version of National Service to create a sense of shared purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country.”
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall called it an “unfunded commitment” and a “headline-grabbing gimmick”.
Sweden, Switzerland and Israel already have National Service. In FrancePresident Emmanuel Macron has revealed plans to bring back National Service.
The British Army is currently at its smallest size since the Napoleonic Wars 200 years ago.
Army numbers fell from 109,600 in 2000 to 76,950 last year, with the Navy shrinking from 42,800 to 32,590. The RAF also went from 54,600 to 31,940.
Defense Committee deputies warned that the country would be woefully unprepared for any “high-intensity” conflict.
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