Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:29am on 26 May 2024,Sunday International
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveils plans for mandatory national service for 18-year-olds, offering military or civil volunteering options. Opposition slams scheme as desperate and unfunded, accusing Tories of shifting blame for government-created issues onto youth. Labour criticizes lack of funding for the £2.5bn commitment, highlighting previous unfulfilled Tory pledges. Tories defend proposal as essential for national security and civic duty, citing success in Sweden. Sunak faces accusations of hypocrisy for previously rejecting national service, while proposing it now. Funding to come from tax avoidance clampdown and UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Debate rages over youth being tasked to fix government failures.
