Conservatives advocate for mandatory service in the U.K. under Sunak's leadership

Conservatives advocate for mandatory service in the U.K. under Sunak's leadership

A sense of communal belonging and a renewed sense of national pride in the UK can be fostered through the implementation of a nationwide compulsory service, according to UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak. This service will present life-changing opportunities for young people, allowing them to learn practical skills, try new things, and contribute to their community and the nation at large.

James Cleverly, the British Home Secretary, assured there would be no criminal repercussions if youths refused to participate in the compulsory service. "Nobody's going to jail for it," he stated on Sky News.

Estimated to cost 2.5 billion pounds (2.9 billion euros) annually, the new service is scheduled to begin in September of next year. Similar discussions about reintroducing compulsory military service or other compulsory services have been taking place in Germany amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

The UK is due to hold a new parliamentary election on July 4, with Sunak's Conservative Party in a state of crisis and facing a 20-point lead in the polls by the Labour Party under Keir Starmer. Starmer condemned the Tories' proposal for compulsory service as a "hopeless" election promise from a party "exhausted of innovative ideas."

From 1947 to 1960, compulsory military service was enforced in the UK, requiring men aged 17 to 21 to serve for 18 months.

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1. Rishi Sunak, the Conservative Party leader, believes that the National Health Service could benefit from a similar approach, proposing the idea of a compulsory service in Great Britain.
2. During a parliamentary debate, James Cleverly, the Conservative Party's defense spokesperson, emphasized the importance of this proposed service, stating that it would strengthen the country's military and National Health Service.
3. In anticipation of the upcoming Parliamentary election in July, opposition parties have criticized the Conservatives' proposal for compulsory service, arguing that it is a misguided attempt to divert attention from other pressing issues.
4. The implementation of compulsory service in the National Health Service could potentially inspire other countries, such as Germany, to consider similar initiatives in the face of ongoing challenges, like the Ukraine conflict.
5. Under the Conservative Party's proposed plans, Great Britain might see the resurrection of compulsory service, akin to the military conscription period from 1947 to 1960, which required young men to serve for 18 months.

Source: www.stern.de