It has some merit but like Labour says this is just a promise to have a review, there are no details.

That said it seems a little lopsided, 365 days in the military or 25 days as a weekend civilian. I think we know which one they will choose.

It needs to be comparable if you can give up a year for the army why not the NHS.

One of the main focuses of the 'Starmer' project has been destroying the left because they scared the hell out of the powers-that-be in 2017 when the ground game, from the likes of Momentum, pulled on 40% of the vote. Hence what has happened since and the disgraceful treatment of Corbyn. Of all the things to fear from a Starmer Government then the likes of Momentum being anywhere near the levers of power ain't one of them.

But the big story in this moment, as has already been alluded to, is Gove stepping down. Apparently a genuine surprise to Sunak.

A real stab in the back moment and potentially defining the campaign because there are literally zero high profile MP's Sunak can use. Maybe Hunt but that f***er is pure Deep State. Cameron will keep his nut down so it's all down to Sunaks charisma to carry the day.LOL. zero Seats here we come.

It has some merit but like Labour says this is just a promise to have a review, there are no details.

That said it seems a little lopsided, 365 days in the military or 25 days as a weekend civilian. I think we know which one they will choose.

It needs to be comparable if you can give up a year for the army why not the NHS.

The same thought passing through the heads of many 60 + voters, I suspect. As our elders thought of us, no doubt, we view the Yoot as feckless, lefty, entitled, snowflakes for whom getting some in could only improve them. Park that thought for now...

Not a chance in hell this could happen.

There are around 750,000 18 year olds. You could not have boys only these days (quite right too) so you would have to have all the genders.

Take out those with genuine disability and let us assume that 75% choose the community service option (many having that option "presented" to them, given their obesity and general poor health), you still have at least 150,000 relatively fit and healthy kids turning up for service.

There are only 110,000 in the British Army of whom only around 75,000 are regulars and not Gurkhas or TA. To train and manage this lot would require soldiers of experience. Of the professional regulars, few if any would volunteer for this. And we kind of need them to protect us. So...

NCOs, many of whom would be retired, might be willing if they don't have better options elsewhere. How many of those do you think are available and willing to do the job? And how many suitably qualified women to train the females? I'd be surprised if you could muster any more than 1000 to deal with 75,000 girls.

And where is the cash for all this? And the real estate to house them? Neither present and correct sir!

And what do the Army think of this? Massively depleted resources, all they have to cling to is their history and professional status. Not for long. I have no doubt at all they were not consulted.

Finally, this is not the deferential 1950s. The bright young recruits are as likely to tell their NCO to naff off to his face, question all command, demand special attention due to allergies and so on and if the poo hits the fan, accuse someone of a whole range of complaints that will get the one poor bloke who agreed to do this summarily dismissed because he noticed somebody in a funny way.

Now I see little credit in any of the parties. The Libs and their clumsy visual ads, the Greens and their lean to Jihad, Labour and their wokeishness and Reform... well. However, the Tories know full well that the massive over 60 vote is traditionally "theirs". They know that many would see the ostensible positive of national service and it will attract votes from this demographic. Yet it is a promise they also know full well that, if they won the election, they could not possibly deliver.

If this had come from the mouth of one of their far right gammon brigade you would just chuckle. However, this blatant lie has come out of head office and on the eve of a general election when they know full well it could not be properly scrutinized.

How anyone can vote for a party desperate and crooked enough to sanction this is beyond me. After their inevitable electoral hammering, they need to have a proper clear out as we need an effective opposition. This is solid proof that this lot are manifestly not up to that task.

It could work if done right.

As I said in a previous post more Peace Corp and Candy Stripers than National Service and definitely not the army. Get business to agree that someone who does volunteer and has a good record will have a better chance of getting a job.

Make it fun.

The only problem you have with a voluntary service is that the kids that you really want to get to, no ambition, no education, don't attend school etc. will not be the slightly bit interested.

Still some form of community service being recognised by business as a qualification is not a bad idea.

The cost of state education per child in UK varies depending on age and need etc but 7000 per annum is a reasonable starting point.

"On a per-pupil basis the total funding allocated to schools for 5-16 year old pupils, in cash terms, in 2024-25 was £7,690, a 49% increase compared to £5,180 allocated per pupil in 2010-11."

Source UK Gov

Suppose the average private school fee for tuition is circa 5000 excluing boarding feees, VAT at 20% would raise 1000 per pupil.

Even if the number was double or treble the policy would still cost the taxpayer.

So for each child that leaves private education there is net cost on tuition alone of circa 6600.

That excludes all other costs of infrastructure etc.

Simply from an economic standpoint the policy is stupid and ideologically based.

Around 7% of children attend private school, @ 600,000.

If 20% stopped , the state sector would incur a cost of say 5000 per student it would be 600 million plus 100+ new schools would be needed.

The idea this policy would raise money for extra teachers is simply nonsense

Edited by HKOwen (27 May 2024 11.23pm)

Edited by HKOwen (27 May 2024 11.24pm)