James Blunt has shared his thoughts on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s mandatory national service plan, saying it’s “not a bad idea”.
The Conservative Party have said that 18-year-olds would be required to participate in a scheme involving military or civilian service, if they win the UK general election on July 4.
“This modern form of national service will mean that young people get the skills and the opportunities that they need, which is going to serve them very well in life,” Sunak explained at a recent campaign event (via BBC News).
“It is going to foster a culture of service which is going to be incredibly powerful for making our society more cohesive, and in a more uncertain and dangerous world it’s going to strengthen our country’s security and resilience.”
In a video on TikTok, the PM said: “As is the case in other countries, we will provide a stipend to help with living costs for those doing the military element alongside their training.
“Meanwhile, on the civic side, we will make sure organisations have funding for training and administration.”
Singer-songwriter Blunt – who served in the British Army before he got signed as a musician, and was an officer during the Kosovo War – recently spoke about the controversial plan at the 2024 Hay Festival.
@ukconservatives This will change lives #nationalservice #generalelection #uk #rishisunak
“We all know it’s not going to happen, but I think the concept – to understand a bit about serving your community – is not a bad idea,” the ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer reasoned (via the Standard).
“The greatest thing about the Army is that we worked together as a team, people from all corners of the UK, and that was a huge benefit.”
Blunt continued: “I’m a posh twat and these people were salt of the earth. A guy from Newcastle who would otherwise be nicking cars is in the Army, and I know he’s going to be able to hot-wire my tank to get out of a situation.
“Likewise, he knows that when we come across the enemy, I’m going to be able to chat my way out of the situation.”
Many have criticised the PM’s proposal, including Labour Leader Keir Starmer. “Rishi Sunak is putting out a lot of ideas now which are pretty desperate stuff,” he said, per Sky News. “I mean, national service for teenagers is just so badly thought through.”
Starmer added: “The first question is bound to be, ‘Well how are you gonna enforce it?’ [or] ‘What happens if someone says no?’ – to which [the Tories] couldn’t give an answer.”
Elsewhere, an ex-military chief has called the plan “bonkers” (via The Guardian).
Home Secretary James Cleverly has said that no teens would be sent to prison for avoiding mandatory national service. However, Tory deputy chairman James Daly told the BBC that there would “be some form of sanction” for those not taking part.
Additionally, Sunak has been responding to questions from young people about the scheme on TikTok. In one video, the PM confirmed that refusal to participate would not result in a prison sentence.
Another clip saw him reply to someone who asked about university students and teenagers with jobs: “There’s no reason why you can’t do both, because the volunteering in your community can be done over 25 days throughout the year – equivalent to about one weekend a month.
“And if you do want to do the 12 months in the Army, then you just go to university afterwards if you wanted.”
@ukconservatives Replying to @olivia
Answering some more questions this morning #nationalservice #uk #generalelection #rishisunak
@ukconservatives Replying to @
kayden
Answering some more questions this evening #nationalservice #uk #generalelection #rishisunak
Political commentator and journalist Owen Jones said: “Young people sacrificed their freedom to protect the lives of older Britons from an illness which overwhelmingly posed no fatal risk to them [during COVID]
“Meanwhile, the Tories trying to impose ‘National Service’ were partying until they were vomiting down the walls of No. 10.”
The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess has also criticised the proposed scheme. “At 18 I was working full time and practising with my band three nights a week,” he wrote on X/Twitter.
“My mates were doing similar or were at university or poly. Threatening young people with National Service to impress some ancient right-wing voters, is one of the many reasons those clowns need booting out.”
He added: “People who never did National Service want to introduce it for young people they don’t know, in a world they are completely out of touch with, trying to impress others who are nearing the end of their lives.”
Young people sacrificed their freedom to protect the lives of older Britons from an illness which overwhelmingly posed no fatal risk to them.
Meanwhile, the Tories trying to impose 'National Service' were partying until they were vomiting down the walls of No. 10. https://t.co/knyNbjJG1f
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) May 26, 2024
At 18 I was working full time and practicing with my band 3 nights a week. My mates were doing similar or were at university or poly. Threatening young people with National Service to impress some ancient right wing voters, is one of the many reasons those clowns need booting out pic.twitter.com/jfhkPUP60b
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) May 29, 2024
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The national service we need from our young people is to vote for change on 4th July.”
Writer and director Armando Iannucci – who created the political BBC sitcom The Thick Of It – commented: “The money IS there to end child poverty.
“Sunak’s National Service scheme would cost £2.5bn. Getting rid of two-child benefit cap would lift 1.1million children out of poverty at a cost £1.8bn. The economic benefits of the latter would be immense.”
Comedian and presenter Nish Kumar (The Mash Report) wrote: “[Sunak] took a day off to have a think, and came up with ‘bring back national service’. The guy’s trying to lose. This election is the plot of the Producers.”
You can see those posts and more reactions below.
The national service we need from our young people is to vote for change on 4th July.
— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) May 26, 2024
The money IS there to end child poverty. Sunak’s National Service scheme would cost £2.5bn. Getting rid of two-child benefit cap would lift 1.1million children out of poverty at a cost £1.8bn. The economic benefits of the latter would be immense.
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) May 28, 2024
He took a day off to have a think, and came up with 'bring back national service'. The guy's trying to lose. This election is the plot of the Producers.
— Nish Kumar (@MrNishKumar) May 26, 2024
Bring back political parties who do not predicate their entire manifesto on things elderly people shouted at kids on BMXs in the 80s #nationalservice
— Shaun Keaveny
(@shaunwkeaveny) May 26, 2024
Close down all their youth clubs, cut off funding for youth programmes in the community, create a country in which 4.3M of them live below the poverty line, slash school budgets..and then blame them for the mess & bring back national service. This government man
— Matt Bowman
(@PIGEON_MATT) May 27, 2024
I'd just like to reassure everyone that national service will not apply to kids with rich parents.
— Parody Rishi Sunak (@Parody_PM) May 26, 2024
I don’t understand why the “volunteer” portion of the national service plan needs to be unpaid. It would make more sense if it went towards a reduction in university fees, or at least some form of salary. There’s little to no incentive to do a good job?
— Ava-Santina (@AvaSantina) May 26, 2024
[turns to donors] look when we said national service for all we obviously meant for kids whose parents can’t afford the fine https://t.co/q2WutewDUp
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) May 26, 2024
National service to solve lack of cheap labor! This is just getting better and better!
VOTE THESE TORY FREAKS OUT! https://t.co/cSa3TMb9Z7
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) May 26, 2024
Here’s an idea. Instead of national service, which is obviously idiotic, how about kids working on farms.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) May 27, 2024
Keir Starmer is widely expected to become the next UK Prime Minister this summer after 14 years of Tory rule.
Responding to the general election announcement last week, he said it was “time for change” away from the “chaos” of the Conservatives.
“Only a changed Labour party will get Britain’s future back,” Starmer explained. “And make no mistake, the Labour Party has changed.”
Earlier this month, the Conservative Party suffered historic losses in the UK local elections.
In other news, D:Ream have spoken to NME about their shocked reaction to their 1993 hit ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ returning to the charts after being played over Rishi Sunak’s general election speech at Downing Street. They also teased what fans can expect from their set at Glastonbury 2024.
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