UK PM plans mandatory military service for youth

Rishi Sunak

In one of his first major election pledge announcements on Sunday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he will introduce a "bold new" form of mandatory National Service for young people if the Conservatives win another five-year term in the July 4 polls.

The British Indian leader said his plan would see 18-year-olds given the choice of a full-time military placement for 12 months or a scheme to volunteer for one weekend a month for a year. The military placement would be selective, with tests used to decide eligibility, and involve working with the armed forces or in cyber defence.

"We have so much to be proud of in Britain but one of the problems in our society is that we have generations of young people who don't have the opportunities they deserve," said Sunak in a campaign video to announce this new Tory proposal.

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