NO one will go to jail for avoiding the Tories’ plan for compulsory national service, the Home Secretary has revealed today.
Under the proposed scheme, every British 18-year-old man or woman will be expected to serve their country for a year.
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Teenagers 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, youngsters will not face criminal charges for refusing to sign up.
Home Secretary James Cleverly told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “There is going to be no criminal sanctions for this. No one is going to jail for this.
“But what we have seen from the other countries that have got similar schemes to this, particularly the Baltic and Scandinavian countries, firstly, there is actually very very wide scale take up and enthusiasm for this.
“We want to make this compelling. But also we want to make sure that it fits with people’s aptitudes and aspirations.”
He also confirmed that “no one will be compelled” to take on military service and teens can instead volunteer with a charity or community group for one weekend a month.
Mr 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 from different backgrounds, different religions, different income levels, and so some of it is about utility to the armed forces but the bulk of this is about helping to build a cohesive society where people mix outside their bubble.”
He suggested that teens could be helping to build flood defences as part of their national service.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to introduce the mandatory scheme across the country by the end of the next parliament if he wins the General Election.
A Royal Commission will be set up to look at how it would work.
Mr 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 address this and secure our future.
“I will bring in a new version of National Service to create a shared sense of 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 France, President 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 have plummeted from 109,600 in 2000 to 76,950 last year with the Navy shrinking from 42,800 to 32,590 The RAF has also gone from 54,600 to 31,940.
MPs on the Defence Committee have warned that the country would be woefully underprepared for any “high-intensity” conflict.
