This is a great country and I am so proud to be your Prime Minister. Over the past 18 months we have made progress from the shocks caused by Covid-19 Ukraine: to take inflation and get our economy growing again. With the economy stabilizing, now is the time to decide what future you want for Britain.
Do you want to build on what we have done together and create a secure future with the Conservativesor do we risk returning to where we started with Labour?
Our pride in our United Kingdom should not blind us to the challenges the country faces. One is that generations of young people have not had the opportunities and experiences they deserve – and too much potential is wasted in aimless lives of crime or unemployment. I want to change that and have a clear plan to do so.
We will reinvent National Service for modern Britain. It will provide life-changing opportunities for our young people, giving them the chance to learn real-world skills, do new things and contribute to their communities and our country. It shouldn't just be those lucky enough to have a gap year who get the chance to have these types of experiences.
We will reinvent National Service for modern-day Britain, writes Rishi Sunak (pictured, Friday)
As a father, I look forward to my own two daughters serving in national service: I think they will find it a rewarding experience (photo: Mr Sunak with his wife Akshata Murty, right, and daughters Krishna, second from left, and Anoushka, second from right, with dog Nova in May 2023)
It will provide life-changing opportunities for our young people, giving them the chance to learn real skills, do new things and contribute to their communities and our country (photo: Mr Sunak at RAF Lossiemouth military base in Moray, Scotland in December)
Do you want to build on what we have done together and create a secure future with the Conservatives, or do you risk going back to square one with Labour?
All 18-year-olds will take up this new National Service, regardless of their background and wherever they live in Britain. However, it will not be a one-size-fits-all program. Young people can choose between volunteering for 25 days – equivalent to one weekend a month – as a lifeguard for the RNLI, becoming a first aider or many other options.
Those who choose to serve in the military and pass the test can take on a twelve-month, full-time deployment to our Armed Forces.
They will have the opportunity to work in many areas, from defending our country against cyber attacks to developing their leadership skills. This training will help young people become the best they can be, and if they enjoy the experience, they can choose a career in the military or join the reserves, strengthening our national security.
Simply put, we must do more for our youth and our youth must do more for our country. After all, our country is only as strong as what we all contribute to it.
This new National Service will give the coming generation the opportunity to learn valuable life skills while contributing to our country. For some, it will open their eyes to potential careers. For others, it will create a culture of service that will make our society stronger and more cohesive. It will increase trust throughout our country: it will help us all know each other better and unite our society at a time when people at home and abroad are trying to divide us.
I know not everyone will agree with this plan. But bold action is the right thing for today's Britain. As a father, I look forward to my two daughters serving in military service: I think they will find it a rewarding experience. It will teach them, like other young people, a lot about themselves and the society they serve.
To those who complain that it is unreasonable to make it mandatory, I say: citizenship brings with it both duties and rights. Being British is about more than just queuing at passport control.
To be clear: our new National Service is not compulsory. The vast majority of those who do this will not serve in our armed forces. Only those who choose it and pass the tough entrance tests will do so.
But what everyone will do is contribute to our country. From first aid to helping the housebound and lonely, to search and rescue, every 18-year-old will learn new skills while contributing to our society.
It shouldn't just be those lucky enough to have a gap year who get the chance to have these kinds of experiences (Photo: Mr Sunak looking at an NLAW anti-tank launcher in August 2022)
All 18-year-olds will take up this new National Service, regardless of their background and wherever they live in Britain
Simply put, we must do more for our youth and our youth must do more for our country. After all, our country is only as strong as what we all contribute to it
We have a clear plan to deliver this action, which will help improve the opportunities available to the next generation and build the secure future we all want to see for our children and for Britain (photo: the Mr Sunak at the Thales Defense System factory in Belfast in August 2022)
We know how to make this new National Service a reality. The first royal commission of this century will finalize the details of how the plan will work. It will then open for applications in September 2025.
This rite of passage will create a shared sense of purpose among our youth and a renewed sense of pride in our country.
We have a clear plan to deliver this action, which will help improve opportunities for the next generation and build the secure future we all want to see for our children and for Britain.