National service to RETURN: Penny Mordaunt backs new plan that could sign up EVERY 16-year-old
Penny Mordaunt has backed plans to reintroduce National Service
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Penny Mordaunt has backed a new plan that would see young people stepping up to help out across the nation.
Proposals put forward by centre-Right think tank Onward, would aim to tackle the UK’s “growing youth crisis” by offering them purpose.
According to the think tank, young people are currently “unhappy, unskilled and unmoored” with over one million teenagers suffering being referred to mental health services last year alone.
Polling commissioned by Onward shows as many as 57 per cent of Britons support national services while just 19 per cent oppose it.
The plans, backed by Penny Mordaunt would aim to tackle the UK's growing 'youth crisis'
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Although the think tank advocates for automatically signing up 16-year-olds to national service with the option to opt-out, Mordaunt thinks that could be a step too far and proposes a softer approach.
Mordaunt wrote: “Onward recognises that Government should have an interest in this.
“However, I believe this should be in convening and enabling citizens.
“A new national service scheme should be optional, not mandated.
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Officers at Notting Hill Carnival
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“The more Government intervenes, the less scope there is for enterprise, social and commercial. The more Government compels a behaviour, the less likely it is to be sustainable. The volunteer – armed and engineered with personal responsibility, enterprise and initiative – is one of the most powerful agents on Earth.
“They harness the most natural instinct we have.”
Onward’s polling also suggests 53 per cent of people are more likely to support a mixed programme of national service which includes civil and military activities.
The data also found that a majority of people would oppose a mandatory scheme.
Mordaunt and Onward’s plans come after hundreds of arrests were made at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival following a number of stabbings and assaults.
According to the police, over 300 arrests were made over the two days of the carnival, 165 of which were made on Monday for a range of offences including possession of offensive weapons, assaults on police officers, possession of drugs and sexual offences.
Speaking on GB News last night, Nigel Farage issued a warning over the amount of violence.
He said: “Incredibly, 75 incidents of officers being attacked. Even sexual offences taking place, it is a litany. Eight people stabbed.
“Can you even imagine being a police officer and being asked to attend? Where you’re probably going to be at best, mocked, and at worst, seriously attacked.”