Young people will get opportunity to support communities under Conservative plans.
Young people across Stockport will get the opportunity to support their communities under plans unveiled by the Conservatives.
The plans have been unveiled by the Prime Minister, who has set out that a future Conservative government will introduce mandatory National Service for every 18-year-old, to be spent in a competitive, full-time military commission or spending one weekend a month volunteering in their community.
The news has been welcomed by Paul Athans, the Conservative candidate for Hazel Grove Constituency, who himself has a military background and volunteers in his local community.
He said:
“This is a bold and brilliant announcement. If people ask, why should we care about this, it’s all about serving others.
“I am proud to say I’ve served in the Army for over 15 years so I know just how positive an experience military service can be. The benefits to social mobility and personal growth are unbounded.
“Countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have recently reintroduced forms of national service. Reinventing National Service in Britain will give young people valuable life skills, shore up civic resilience and defence, and build a stronger national culture.
“Service to our community and our country is where we need to guide the next generation. I couldn't be happier with this announcement and our commitment to our young people.
“This will give young people real-world skills while contributing to their country and community.”
Paul Athans has welcomed the Conservatives’ new mandatory National Service for every 18-year-old, giving young people the opportunities they deserve to secure a brighter future amidst a more uncertain world.
By introducing a bold new model of mandatory National Service, every 18-year-old will either spend a full year in a competitive, full-time military placement or UK cyber defence, or spend the equivalent of one weekend a month (25 days a year) volunteering in a civic role. Individuals will be able to choose between roles in our communities, including in local infrastructure, the NHS, and the RNLI.
This will give young people across the country the opportunities they deserve to gain the valuable life skills they need, making our country more secure and building a stronger national culture.
This will be funded through the Conservatives’ clear plan to raise an additional £6 billion a year by the end of the next Parliament from cracking down on tax avoidance and evasion, of which £1 billion will be allocated to the National Service, in addition to the remaining £1.5 billion previously used for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
This is on top of the Conservatives’ bold action to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, the biggest strengthening of our national defence in a generation, maintaining our leading position in NATO and supporting our Armed Forces.
Only Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have a clear plan to support the youngest generations and will take the bold action needed to deliver the opportunities they rightfully deserve in a more uncertain world.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour have no clear plan to strengthen our defence or support our young people and won’t take the bold action needed to navigate to a more secure future. Labour do not support increasing defence to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, putting a £75 billion investment in the UK’s defence at risk, and they would slash the number of apprenticeships across the country in half – putting our national security and the future of our young people at risk.
Prime Minister Rishi 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 increasingly uncertain world.
“I have a clear plan to address this and secure our future. I will bring in a new model of National Service to create a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country.
“This new, mandatory National Service will provide life-changing opportunities for our young people, offering them the chance to learn real world skills, do new things and contribute to their community and our country.”
