'We're going back to 1947': Tory MP pressed on Sunak's mandatory national service plan

As Rishi Sunak plans to bring back mandatory national service if he wins the general election, Paul Brand wonders why we're putting this 'burden' on the younger generation.

18-year-olds would have a choice of either joining the military full-time for a year, or volunteering for a weekend every month carrying out a community service.

Speaking to Tory MP, Tobias Ellwood, Paul Brand asks: 'Why are the Tories claiming that Labour would take us back to square one, yet they're taking us back to 1947?'

In response, Elwood says it's because we've entered a 'grim chapter in our history' that we simply must prepare for.

Brand also interviews Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain, who stresses Sunak's plan 'smacks of desperation' and 'feels like a punishment for the young'.

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LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK.

[beverleyprice]

I am 63 yrs old and 5 mins in and livid on behalf of young people at the arrogance of imposing on a generation that your government have taken so much hope away from now you want them to ‘offer their lives for their country’ - FU!

[jayr]

Why should young people be forced to volunteer for a country that offers them nothing.

[riffraff]

Reintroduce national pride, vote a Tory out

[jake]

My son is not fighting for a country that has zero respect for their citizens.

[radicalbyte]

"About time some people do something for the country” - I totally agree, it's about time people like Rishi Sunak start actually paying taxes.

[professorpigeon]

Better idea, why don’t we send the entire Conservative Party

[goatsummoner]

As selfish as it seems, I don't want to put my life on the life for a government that has done nothing for the young. I'm well past 18, but I'm still "young". I've worked hard and paid taxes only to be treated poorly.

[joseskoks]

“About time young people do something for the country”
-old person that never did National Service

[scottcuk]

As someone with 3 children under 16, there is no way I’d trust the government with their safety.

[stuplant]

As a former soldier and recent reservist, national service is ridiculous. It's emotional nonsense of the Tories thinking we live in the past. Build a better military for the future, don't break international relationships with our neighbours, stop wasting money on corruption with your friends. The army does not want unmotivated people. David Cameron tried this with his volunteering scheme in 2010 to get elected then did nothing. Plus why young people, oh they don't vote. Try doing it with older people you Tory

[wrekin]

A sign of desperation. The man is a joke.

[samueldorrington]

Forcing someone to volunteer is slavery, telling someone to chose between slavery or joining an army is openly evil.

[gavinreid]

When I was 18 I got my fees paid, housing was much more affordable, transport much cheaper. This policy robs our youth of another year with no recompense. Utterly unacceptable.

[craigsphotography]

I am very sorry, I used to think Tobias Ellwood is the only serious person on the conservative back benches, it's now plainly obvious he is a clown.

You lot cut our defense spending and capability to joke levels. 18 year olds should not be asked for mandatory service for a country that offers them very little

[tomvandersteen]

This is a disgusting policy, I thought we had moved on from the age of forced labour. Why should you get to order my children to go work for free to repair the institutions that you’ve intentionally run into the ground over last decade? If my kids want to volunteer or join a Public service it will be because they choose to not because these cretins tell them to. If you want young people to feel a sense of civic duty, try making this into a country they can feel proud of again instead of threatening them with prison if they don’t comply. 🤬

[idlenavigator]

Tobias, your party has created a country that people are struggling to feel patriotic about. Maybe if your party had spent 15 years making the country a better place, this policy would have been better received?

[andrewdobson]

Never seen a better reason for 16 year olds to get the vote.

[Human_Herbivore]

My dad did national service and was vehemently against it for the rest of his life.

[midge]

“Do it for the Nation” states Tobias. What has the nation done for the youth of today within the last 14 years.

[Penfold]

"We've got rising authoritarianism..." Yeah, a prime example is this government.