Frankie Coultas, Southampton West Socialist Party
In a move that can be described as cynical to the point of self-parody, the Conservative Party has announced its election pledge to bring back national service. For his reasoning behind the move, Rishi Sunak argued that it would improve job and study opportunities for young people. He did not, however, expand upon just how military service would fix any of the problems that young people in the UK are facing at the moment. He even admitted that he has not yet written the actual policy.
Employment and education access are key issues for young people in the UK. The rate of unemployment for 16- to 24-year olds has risen to 13% in 2024. This, combined with the sky rocketing cost of living, has made it increasingly prohibitive for young people to access higher education and find a decent place to live.
Contrary to what the Tories and Sunak believe, what young people desperately need is not a ‘shared sense of purpose’ but in fact the resources to live and thrive. Resources that exist in abundance in the UK but are hoarded by big business and the bosses.
Young people showing solidarity
It also demonstrates just how out of touch the government is with young people if they believe that there is a lack of a ‘shared sense of purpose’. Thousands of young people and students have demonstrated against the war on Gaza in solidarity with Palestinians.
If the government genuinely wanted to improve the lives and community spirit of young people they would cease their reactionary divide and conquer ‘culture wars’ that vilify minorities, and make sure we have decent jobs wages we can live on and affordable good quality housing.
