James Blunt says Rishi Sunak’s national service plan is “not a bad idea”

29 May, 2024

two side by side images of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) and musician James Blunt (right)

James Blunt has shared his thoughts on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s mandatory national service plan, saying it’s “not a bad idea”.

The Conservative Party have said that 18-year-olds would be required to participate in a scheme involving military or civilian service, if they win the UK general election on July 4.

“This modern form of national service will mean that young people get the skills and the opportunities that they need, which is going to serve them very well in life,” Sunak explained at a recent campaign event (via BBC News).

“It is going to foster a culture of service which is going to be incredibly powerful for making our society more cohesive, and in a more uncertain and dangerous world it’s going to strengthen our country’s security and resilience.”

In a video on TikTok, the PM said: “As is the case in other countries, we will provide a stipend to help with living costs for those doing the military element alongside their training.

“Meanwhile, on the civic side, we will make sure organisations have funding for training and administration.”

Singer-songwriter Blunt – who served in the British Army before he got signed as a musician, and was an officer during the Kosovo War – recently spoke about the controversial move at the 2024 Hay Festival.

@ukconservatives

This will change lives #nationalservice #generalelection #uk #rishisunak

♬ original sound – Conservatives

“We all know it’s not going to happen, but I think the concept – to understand a bit about serving your community – is not a bad idea,” the ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer reasoned (via the Standard).

“The greatest thing about the Army is that we worked together as a team, people from all corners of the UK, and that was a huge benefit.”

Blunt continued: “I’m a posh twat and these people were salt of the earth. A guy from Newcastle who would otherwise be nicking cars is in the Army, and I know he’s going to be able to hot-wire my tank to get out of a situation.

“Likewise, he knows that when we come across the enemy, I’m going to be able to chat my way out of the situation.”

Many have criticised the PM’s proposal, including Labour Leader Keir Starmer. “Rishi Sunak is putting out a lot of ideas now which are pretty desperate stuff,” he said, per Sky News. “I mean, national service for teenagers is just so badly thought through.”

Starmer added: “The first question is bound to be, ‘Well how are you gonna enforce it?’ [or] ‘What happens if someone says no?’ – to which [the Tories] couldn’t give an answer.”

Elsewhere, an ex-military chief has called the plan “bonkers” (via The Guardian).

Home Secretary James Cleverly has said that no teens would be sent to prison for avoiding mandatory national service. However, Tory deputy chairman James Daly told the BBC that there would “be some form of sanction” for those not taking part.

Additionally, Sunak has been responding to questions from young people about the scheme on TikTok. In one video, the PM confirmed that refusal to participate would not result in a prison sentence.

Another clip saw him reply to someone who asked about university students and teenagers with jobs: “There’s no reason why you can’t do both, because the volunteering in your community can be done over 25 days throughout the year – equivalent to about one weekend a month.

“And if you do want to do the 12 months in the Army, then you just go to university afterwards if you wanted.”

@ukconservatives

Replying to @olivia🤍🪩 Answering some more questions this morning #nationalservice #uk #generalelection #rishisunak

♬ original sound – Conservatives

@ukconservatives

Replying to @🎧kayden💫 Answering some more questions this evening #nationalservice #uk #generalelection #rishisunak

♬ original sound – Conservatives

Political commentator and journalist Owen Jones said: “Young people sacrificed their freedom to protect the lives of older Britons from an illness which overwhelmingly posed no fatal risk to them [during COVID]

“Meanwhile, the Tories trying to impose ‘National Service’ were partying until they were vomiting down the walls of No. 10.”

The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess has also criticised the proposed scheme. “At 18 I was working full time and practising with my band three nights a week,” he wrote on X/Twitter.

“My mates were doing similar or were at university or poly. Threatening young people with National Service to impress some ancient right-wing voters, is one of the many reasons those clowns need booting out.”

He added: “People who never did National Service want to introduce it for young people they don’t know, in a world they are completely out of touch with, trying to impress others who are nearing the end of their lives.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The national service we need from our young people is to vote for change on 4th July.”

Writer and director Armando Iannucci – who created the political BBC sitcom The Thick Of It – commented: “The money IS there to end child poverty.

“Sunak’s National Service scheme would cost £2.5bn. Getting rid of two-child benefit cap would lift 1.1million children out of poverty at a cost £1.8bn. The economic benefits of the latter would be immense.”

Comedian and presenter Nish Kumar (The Mash Report) wrote: “[Sunak] took a day off to have a think, and came up with ‘bring back national service’. The guy’s trying to lose. This election is the plot of the Producers.”

You can see those posts and more reactions below.

Keir Starmer is widely expected to become the next UK Prime Minister this summer after 14 years of Tory rule.

Responding to the general election announcement last week, he said it was “time for change” away from the “chaos” of the Conservatives.

“Only a changed Labour party will get Britain’s future back,” Starmer explained. “And make no mistake, the Labour Party has changed.”

Earlier this month, the Conservative Party suffered historic losses in the UK local elections.

In other news, D:Ream have spoken to NME about their shocked reaction to their 1993 hit ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ returning to the charts after being played over Rishi Sunak’s general election speech at Downing Street. They also teased what fans can expect from their set at Glastonbury 2024.

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