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LAST UPDATE | 26 May 2024
THE UK GOVERNMENT will examine “sensitivities” regarding Northern Ireland in the context of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to introduce military service for young adults.
The Conservative, who is on the campaign trail ahead of a general election in July as his party lags behind Labour, announced that, if re-elected, he would introduce a requirement for 18-year-olds to either complete a year’s placement in the military or spend one weekend a month for a year volunteering in their community.
Sunak believes his policy would help unite society in an “increasingly uncertain world” and give young people a “shared sense of purpose”.
There have been many criticisms raised against the plan on a macro level related to funding and resources as well as on an individual level, such as what it would mean for young people who rely on working part-time at the weekends.
In particular, questions have been levelled against Sunak about how his national service plan would play out in Northern Ireland.
A committee known as a royal commission is expected to be tasked with working out the logistics of the plan.
The Journal understands that the Conservative party expects the royal commission would “examine particular sensitivities regarding Northern Ireland”.
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood called the plan a “shameless stunt from a dying government” and said it would never work in Northern Ireland, asking why “billions in taxpayers money should fund it while communities here suffer significant public spending cuts”.
This policy platform is unserious, unwanted and unworkable. How does Rishi Sunak think he will force kids in Northern Ireland to perform national service in the British Army or undertake ‘mandatory volunteering’ – a total contradiction in terms?
“Public services are on their knees and public sector workers in our health service and schools are still out on strike fighting for a fair pay deal. How can the British Government afford at least £2.5bn for this nonsense but not stump up the cash for junior doctors or classroom assistants or school bus drivers? It’s absolutely perverse and it’s all about winning back voters in England who have abandoned the Conservatives,” Eastwood argued.
In Scotland, the Scottish National Party voiced its opposition to the plans, saying they are “completely out of touch with families and young people”.
The SNP said that it appeared funding would come from the UK shared prospertiy fund, a replacement for European Union structural funds.
Amy Callaghan, candidate for Mid Dunbartonshire, said that the SNP “will stand firm against Tory plans to slash Scotland’s funding and impose mandatory national service on young people – showing why it’s essential to vote SNP to get rid of the Tory government and put Scotland first”.
“It’s shameful Keir Starmer also claims mandatory national service is ‘needed’ and won’t rule out imposing it on Scottish families – these plans from a bygone era are completely out of touch with families and young people in Scotland – and deeply damaging to Scotland’s communities.”
Additional reporting by Press Association
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It will be good to see how loyal the loyalists are
@Shaun Gallagher: interesting alright to actually go from drink and drugs and loyalty to himself to an actual for the most part disciplined army. I’d say 99% of them will run away!
@Shaun Gallagher: Will they still hide in the shipyards like they did 110 years ago?
@Anthony Curran: who? What nonsense is this about?
How could you expect any young republicans to fight for Britain?
@Michael o Dwyer: if you actually take the time to read the article, this isn’t only about the military.
@Michael o Dwyer: they’ve no problem pocketing the Kings pounds in dole
@Alan: well I actually did read the article and I’m actually talking about the military part Alan so what’s your problem with my comment?
@Pat Hazzard: well they can’t spend rubles in great Britain can they.
@Pat Hazzard: Pat the partitionist. Belittling fellow Irish people who were abandoned by the party he cherishes. A mé féiner.
@Pat Hazzard: Wtf is wrong with you? What makes you so committed to a particular political party, can you not think for yourself? What madness is a commitment to politics as we have it now because it’s desperately deficient as a model for society to follow!!
@Pat Hazzard: ‘the king’s pound’ as if he does anything to deserve his obscene wealth
Must be running out of front line fodder for the next war….
They have completely run out of ideas. Populism at it’s absolute worst. We all know that all the major problems in society could be solved if only the youth were as great as ourselves.
Amazing how right wing politicians love sending everyone elses kids into the military.
@bruce banner: Amazing how working class people allow their political classes to send working class children to war. Brainwashed by their education systems into thinking they’re superior to other working class people.
Yep not a bad idea. Youth need to understand their way of life aka peace has historically come by the sacrifice of others. They must be willing to do the same to ensure further generations are free to do as they wish within bounds of constitution.
@Oliver Cleary: Are you suggesting that people should be taught that a peaceful life must be fought for? What a strange way to look at the world.
@Oliver Cleary: I’m pretty sure previous generations, most notably ours atm, have sold them down the river. I wonder why they might bother, strikes me it might be preferable for them just to not have kids at all, what would they get to hand to their children other than a burnt out husk of a planet?
@Jason Memail: freedom is not free.
I think it be great could bring up great respect in the people whom actually look after our country. Imagine at 16 or 18 you want to be a refuse collector sweep the streets work in the park’s council maintenance etc… you serve time in the military get trained up in combat and first aid etc.
@Be Lucky: What possible use is being trained up in combat if you want to work in the park council maintenance?
Irrelevant since Tories going to be wiped in GE
@James Gorman: A few more red meat ideas like this and who knows? The British psyche is in an awful state of nostalgia and confusion currently.
@Louis Jacob: they are in a perpetual state of nostalgia and confusion
@James Gorman: yeh it’s almost like they are trying to make sure they lose.
Lol! These billionaires and their ‘ideas’
@Thesaltyurchin: Bet there’ll be a loophole so their kids don’t have to sign up.
It’s an election gimmick. It’ll never happen.
Im assuming any young folk from certain financial or social backgrounds will likely be exempt…..always love all these people whining we need to stick x, y and z groups into service but when the rich and elites offspring get caught, ah sure they didnt mean it
@Tom Newell: Bone spurs everywhere!
@Tom Newell: Community service at the croquet lawns.
Come back the 1950s all is forgiven.
“All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible.”
― Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse: Dune
“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts and the stupid ones are full of confidence.”
― Charles Bukowski
@Chutes: Never saw that Frank Herbert quote before. But he is right on the money.
If your country was invaded would you defend it? I think most people wouldn’t. Of course, if the invader were pushed back they would want to benefit from those who fought or sacrificed themselves to achieve victory. That being said, what are you defending but the laws your country are governed by. Personally, I would defend my family. The country can go sink.
@AnthonyK: I absolutely would. Stand together or fall alone!
Hey young man – Go out and fight to protect the 90% of wealth owned by the select few of the older generation. You will never own a home or any wealth so please give up your young life for this cause.
Entitled tory chancers trying to force young people who will predominantly come from working class backgrounds to fight and die for a redundant empire talk about pondering to the little englanders
If you want your money back, tax the rich, they have it!
He is just putting this rubbish out to take attention away from his real issues
20 % or more behind in the poles lost nearly half his councils in the recent elections. This is just a red herring commitment nothing more. Kids will tell him to you know what
Until the people demand different we will continue to get the same!
Yeah great idea. Shouldn’t be a problem. Getting nationalists to carry out service in the British army. lol. It will never happen anyway and most of these Tories will never be heard of again in about a months time. There are so many things that wouldn’t work with this it’s hard to know where to start but the tories are sunk anyway so none of it matters anyway.
There’s a video easily found on the tube called “Why do we get the wrong leaders? Brian Klaas at Science and Cocktails”, I highly recommend it.
Military / National service wouldn’t be a bad idea. We could do with it over here. Of course, the commenters will use the old ‘we’ll be teaching them to shoot’ chestnut. Anyone who’s done some time in any of the services knows that there’s a little bit more to it than that. Nothing like a bit of service on a CV, it gives a great edge when you’re applying for a job!
Be great news for certain groups up north. Professional training on how to handle, clean and shoot weapons. According to a friend of mine who was in the Irish military for years it’s mostly the proper cleaning of weapons certain groups don’t follow and therefore loads of weapons jam when they try use them
Big difference between one year in the military and 52 weekend in community work. Bit of an unequal balance there.
I think it might be a good idea for Ireland but not so much military service but community service. We are going into more problematic weather conditions with flooding and storms so would it not be a good idea to get our youngsters trained in first aid, emergency response, communication issues and the like. It works well in Switzerland so why not here. Also a good way to integrate the young people north and south given the serious lack of integrated schools in our country.
@French Dining School: Now that’s a decent idea!
Before bed comment: Rishi Sunak is a rich fkwit!!! Don’t follow rich fkwits!!
Most of the commenters here have no idea what military service is.
Labour for extremely cheap, they will learn to use a sweep brush, and say yes sir. It’s a joke.
Britain wants a United Ireland
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