ENGLAND’S footie wonderkids will have to complete their National Service under Tory plans – despite claims it could wreck our chances in tournaments like the Euros.
Rishi Sunak’s election campaign confirmed this morning the “highly paid 18-year-olds” will still be compelled to participate.
It came after Labour warned the Conservative pledge would mean young Three Lions stars would have to skip training during international competitions.
An attack dossier says: “Jude Bellingham, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw have all been part of a senior England squad at an international competition when aged 18.
“Would they have been required to complete their one weekend of National Service during those tournaments?”
Under Mr Sunak’s plan all 18-year-olds will be forced to do at least 25 days of voluntary community work – while some can choose a full-time military placement.
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Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth added: “Would they be taken out of playing during the inevitable shootout in the semi-finals?”
But he was dismissed by the Conservatives who claimed he was wilfilly twisting their flagship plan.
A Conservative source said: “Of course extremely highly paid 18 year olds will be required to do their national service.
“The 25 days can be completed at any point in the year and if Jon Ashworth could be bothered to engage in policy detail he would know that.”
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The PM’s National Service plan has become a major rift of the general election campaign, getting both praise and criticism.
Mr Sunak insists it would help stir a sense of pride in young people while helping them give back to their communities.
Senior Conservatives accused Sir Keir Starmer of “sneering” yesterday after he branded the plan a “teenager’s Dads’ Army”.
And they pointed out that England legend Sir Bobby Charlton completed mandatory National Service.
What is the National Service pledged by Rishi Sunak?
EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLDS would be forced to carry out a form of national service if the Tories win the General Election.
The most recent form of compulsory national service, which required all physically fit male British citizens aged between 18 and 26 to serve in the armed forces, was abolished in 1960.
However, national service in various forms still exists in countries around the world including in some European countries and South Korea.
Under the Conservatives’ new proposal, young people would be given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year “volunteering” in their community, the Tories said.
The Prime Minister said the policy would help unite society in an “increasingly uncertain world” and give young people a “shared sense of purpose”.
He said volunteering could include helping local fire, police and NHS services as well as charities tackling loneliness and supporting elderly, isolated people.
Brilliant way for young to gather skills
By Jerome Starkey
NATIONAL Service is a great idea. It exalts the idea of giving something back.
It gives people a chance to be part of something bigger.
Covid showed there was no shortage of those ready to help a crisis.
But opportunities are scarce, especially for youngsters who are not qualified for teaching or health roles.
It will train youngsters in skills our predecessors took for granted.
It’s not about stripping a rifle or polishing boots. It’s about self-reliance, camaraderie and teamwork.
Those that choose the military route will learn how to cope when the power is out and the wi-fi is down.
The skills and confidence they learn will help them get better jobs and lead better lives.
National Service lets the country build the structures it would need for mass conscription if the flag went up for all-out war.
Ukraine has shown us — and our generals have warned us — that if Britain fought a state-on-state war of survival, the professional Army would wear out fast.
Our best chance of victory would be calling up reserves and using professionals to train the volunteers.
It would also solve the Forces’ recruitment crisis.
The Army, Navy and RAF have struggled to fill their vacancies.
National service would return the Armed Forces to the heart of British life, where they rightfully belong.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
