Conservative Bolton West MP Chris Green and Labour candidate for Bolton West Phil Brickell have given their opinions on the re-introduction of National Service.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he would introduce a ‘bold new model of National Service’ if the Conservatives win July's General Election, with 18-year-olds mandated to choose between one year of military training or 25 days of unpaid work – described by the PM as ‘volunteer work’ – over the course of a year.

It is more than 60 years since National Service ended in the UK.

Speaking to The Bolton News, both candidates running at the upcoming national poll opposed plans for the scheme to be made compulsory.

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Plans are ‘a gimmick’

Labour’s Phil Brickell described the plans as a ‘gimmick’, saying: “It’s a proposal full of holes that’s been announced on the fly and is a distraction from the real issues of recruitment and retention in our armed services.”

Mr Brickell pointed out that a defence minister rejected restoring national service in answer to a Parliamentary question just two days before it was announced by the Conservatives.

The candidate, who said he served as a scout, added: “I’d be very happy for people to undertake volunteering work or supporting our public services in their own time.

"The idea though of forcing people to do it, as something that’s supposed to be compulsory, doesn’t sit well with me.”

It is unclear what the punishment for non-compliance would be, with Home Secretary James Cleverly saying teenagers would not be sent to jail for refusing.

The party has said it would set up a royal commission to look into the details if the Conservatives win the next General Election on July 4.

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‘Rwanda has a community action day’

Conservative MP Chris Green said he thought the plans were ‘fantastic’, but admitted he would not want the scheme to be compulsory.

Mr Green said: “Many people will look to countries such as Rwanda, where they have a monthly community action day, they would look to countries such as Finland that has a national service.

“You can look at countries around the world that have similar sorts of schemes, and when people are concerned about a more fragmented society it’s quite reasonable for the Prime Minister to look at how we can be brought together.

“This is why the commission is so important, that can look into more detail as to what the best options are.”

Asked if the scheme should be compulsory, Mr Green said: “I think this is one of the interesting areas.

"If people want to volunteer and get involved there’s already plenty of opportunities.

“The idea that a voluntary movement can have any element of compulsion kind of undermines that idea, so I’m sure when the Prime Minister’s commission concludes there will be no compulsory element to it.

“I expect the commission’s conclusion will be if you’re going to be a volunteer it’s best to be on a voluntary basis.”

Asked if he would want to see the scheme be compulsory, Mr Green added: “No, I wouldn’t.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.