Sunak’s controversial plans for national service
Welcome to Monday’s Early Edition from i.
When defence minister Andrew Murrison was asked last week about the possibility of reintroducing national service, his answer was firm. “The Government has no current plans to reintroduce National Service,” he said. Among the reasons he listed were that doing so “could damage morale, recruitment and retention and would consume professional military and naval resources” and that it could also “be difficult to find a proper and meaningful role for them, potentially harming motivation and discipline”. Two days later, however, Rishi Sunak announced mandatory national service will be brought back in if the Conservatives win the next general election. The plan would see every teenager compelled to spend a year in the armed forces, or to volunteer in civil society unpaid for at least 25 days. Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted the programme was aimed at getting teenagers “out of their bubble” because too many “don’t mix with people of different religions, they don’t mix with different viewpoints”. Labour decried it as a “gimmick”. Nigel Farage said the plan was meant to appeal to voters of his Reform party but was ultimately a “joke” and “totally impractical”. Former Conservative defence secretary Michael Portillo said the policy had been produced “like a rabbit out of a hat”. Others have used it as a chance for further ridicule. So what is the plan, and what do those in the military make of it? We’ll take a look, after the headlines.
Today’s news, and why it matters
Sir Keir Starmer is planning to use private finance to boost Britain’s infrastructure as part of a 10-year strategy to be set out within the first year of a Labour government if it wins power, i has learnt. According to industry sources, the party has drawn up plans to increase private-sector financing and streamline the planning system for nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Melanoma skin cancer cases are at an all-time high, with 20,800 people expected to be diagnosed this year in the UK, analysis by Cancer Research UK has found. The charity said rates of melanoma have increased by almost a third over a decade.
Children are to be “prescribed” activities including gardening, fishing and going to museums as part of research aiming to tackle loneliness among young people. The project, involving nine to 13-year-olds, will track how effective so-called social prescribing is in reducing feelings of isolation, mental health difficulties, improving school attendance and how cost effective it is.
Data breaches from the Ministry of Defence have increased nearly five times in the past five years, or nearly 400 per cent, fuelling fears about the UK’s resilience against cyber attacks from Russia and China. Analysis of MoD figures reveals that there were 550 data incidents last year, compared to 117 in 2017-18.
Martine Croxall has returned to the BBC following a year-long absence after she and three other female presenters took the corporation to an employment tribunal. Croxall announced her return on Sunday via a video posted on X which showed her behind the BBC News desk asking the question: “Now, where were we?”
National service – four questions:
What’s the plan? Under the proposals, 18-year-olds would be given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces or UK cyber defence for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year volunteering in their community. They could also opt to volunteer one weekend per month – or 25 days per year – in their community with organisations such as fire, police the NHS, as well as charities tackling loneliness and supporting elderly, isolated people. Placement would be selective and tests would be used to decide who is eligible. Teenagers who choose to sign up for a placement in the forces would “learn and take part in logistics, cyber security, procurement or civil response operations”. The plan would cost an estimate £2.5bn a year by the end of the decade and the party plans to fund £1bn of this through a crackdown on tax avoidance and evasion. The remaining £1.5bnwill be paid for with money previously used for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which is a package to support charities and community groups. The Prime Minister said the measure would help unite society in an “increasingly uncertain world” and give young people a “shared sense of purpose”. An expert panel will be “asked to look at sanctions and incentives” to ensure that all 18-year-olds take part in the scheme, i has been told. Read more here.
Does Labour have a rival plan? Today Sir Keir Starmer will put security at the heart of his speech. The Labour leader has already pledged to raise defence spending to 2.5% GDP by 2030. He is expected to say: “The very foundation of any good government is economic security, border security, and national security. This is the foundation, the bedrock that our manifesto and our first steps will be built upon.” According to the Times, Labour is planning to conduct a 100-day review of all the threats Britain faces, including from Russia and Iran, if it wins the election. The review would bring intelligence services at M15, the police and Whitehall to carry out the review, which would be modelled on Britain’s response to the September 11 attacks and a recent US security assessment of vulnerabilities to Chinese Communist Party activities.
How does it work in other countries? If the policy, which was abolished in 1960, was reintroduced, it would bring the UK in line with countries including Ukraine, Poland, Denmark, South Korea and San Marino. The Conservatives say they would set up a parallel to the policy, which will consider the set-up in European countries, particularly in Scandinavian and the Baltic regions, which already have a form of military service for the young. In Sweden those who refuse to serve can be jailed for a year, while in Lithuania there is a maximum penalty of a €450 fine in most cases. In Switzerland, all men of between 18 and 30 are conscripted to the military or into “civilian service”. Recruits to the forces spend 18 weeks in basic training, followed by refresher courses for the next nine years. South Korea has a compulsory military service for all men aged between 18 and 35, which brings in around 200,000 conscripts every year, according to the CIA. See how the plans compare, here.
What do military chiefs say? Admiral Lord West, a former chief of the naval staff, told the Guardian it was a “bonkers” plan. “I’m delighted if more young people become aware of defence and are involved … but this idea is basically bonkers,” Lord West said. “We need to spend more on defence, and – by doing what he’s suggesting – money will be sucked out of defence.” He also told i that he liked “the fact that somebody is focusing on pulling societies together and having a hit at identity politics, which I think is very damaging to our society.” But he raised concerns that “there will be quite severe penalties on the military because you’d have to have people training conscripts. You have to have organisations set up to do it. There will be a lot of costs in that, and this will actually make our present capability with the regulars worse than it is already, and it’s already pretty bad.” Lord Dannett, chief of the general staff in the British Army from 2006 to 2009, labelled it “electoral opportunism”.He said: “This task cannot just be imposed on the Armed Forces as an extra thing to do. To be effective all 18-year-olds must do this without exemptions. It will never happen because the Conservatives will lose the election.” Read the whole story here.
Around the world
At least 35 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, according to Palestinian health workers, with dozens wounded and more feared trapped in flaming debris. The attacks came hours after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza towards Tel Aviv for the first time in months,
Trebling rents and prices changing daily: life in the country with 300% inflation. In Argentina, menus often have layers of stickers over the prices, a tell-tale sign of price increases, reports Sam Meadows.
Russia’s battle-hardened army is learning – and it’s very bad news for Nato. ‘When they decide on something, they’re relentless,’ says a senior Baltic military officer.
Twelve people have been injured following turbulence on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin. Six passengers and six crew members had been injured during the incident as the aeroplane flew over Turkey on Sunday.
The Colombian government has started exploring a sunk 18th Century Spanish galleon dubbed the “holy grail of shipwrecks”. The South American nation has also declared a protected archaeological area around the San José galleon – which was sunk by the British Royal Navy in 1708 in the Caribbean Sea.
Watch out for…
Gloucestershire, where teams will race up and down the steep slope of Gumstool Hill in Tetbury, carrying a sack of wool weighing up to 60lb, while other thrill-seekers will chase a Double Gloucester cheese down Cooper’s Hill.
Thoughts for the day
Hypochondria used to be embarrassing – now it’s a middle-class badge of honour. We’re creating a less resilient, more morbid society, argues Julie Burchill.
There’s something quite disturbing about a millennial saint. The church hopes that such sentiments will inspire other young people in their faith, writes Michael Coren.
My daughters had to travel abroad to see Taylor Swift – because of Ticketmaster. All fans should be able to see their idols without feeling ripped-off, says Stefano Hatfield.
Culture Break
The Sympathizer review: A striking Vietnam War drama Hollywood would never make. HBO’s audacious new thriller tells the story of the conflict from the Vietnamese side, writes Rachael Sigee.
The Big Read
Inside Labour’s plans to run the four great offices of state. Keir Starmer, David Lammy, Yvette Cooper and Rachel Reeves all have big plans for No 10, the Foreign Office, Home Office and Treasury, reports Rachel Wearmouth.
Sport
Chelsea are about to sign one of Europe’s most astute and ruthless coaches. Chelsea have rolled the dice on Lyon’s Sonia Bompastor following the departure of club legend Emma Hayes.
Something to brighten your day
15 short books for when you have no time to read. Fat tomes can be satisfying, but when you’re busy or tired, slimmer volumes can be consumed in one deliciously gratifying gulp, and are still profound