Nato British Royal Marines and US Army Green Berets training in Germany (Picture: Flickr/Nato) Rishi Sunak’s proposal for all 18-year-olds to undertake national service has sinister implications. It has been dismissed as an empty offer to bigoted Tory voters at the expense of their party’s tiny youth vote. But the imagery of “conscription” is playing a part in building an acceptance of a militarised society and preparations for war.
This includes the racist drive towards closed borders, the political offensive against the left and the constant nationalist drip of false threats of invasion by Russia or China. All together it evokes a preparation for Britain’s engagement in war in the not too distant future. Labour’s response was to emphasise the party’s priority to protect the country’s borders and security.
It’s the same politics, of nationalism, racism, authoritarianism and warmongering. Tony Staunton Plymouth In 1967, I was disaffected and I decided I’d get away and see the world. I was in the air force, but I mostly saw the inside of aircraft hangers, where there was always something to clean.
The idea that young people and children need to be disciplined is a constant refrain from the Tories. I would argue against young people being recruited anyway but at least now they’re not forced to join. I’m very conscious of the military being used as an alternative to the problems that exist.
We need to encourage children and young people, not pose the arme.