British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he will re-introduce conscription or civil service for all 18-year-olds if the Conservative Party wins the July 4 general election.
“We will reinvent National Service for today’s Britain. It 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,” Sunak wrote in the article for the “Daily Mail”.
He added that everyone who turns 18 will be covered, regardless of their origin and where they live in Great Britain.
The prime minister noted that young people will have a choice between regular military service in the British armed forces for a year and alternative service in the form of volunteering in the rescue service and other structures for 25 days.
“To those who complain that it is unreasonable to make it compulsory, I say: citizenship brings with it obligations, but also rights. Being British is more than just waiting in a queue at passport control. To be clear, our new national service is not conscription. A huge most of those who will participate will not serve in our armed forces, but only those who choose it and pass difficult entrance tests,” added Sunak.
In January, the Chief of the British General Staff, General Patrick Sanders, called on the citizens of Great Britain to be ready to serve in the armed forces in the event of a conflict with Russia. At the same time, the Government of Great Britain promised not to introduce conscription.
