‘Our Youth Would Surprise Us’ Is It Time to Bring Back National Service? | Good Morning Britain

Summary

The head of the British army warned the public could be conscripted if the UK was attacked, as the military is too small for a real war. Former marine Craig thought this was a bad idea, believing we should build communities and national pride instead of forcing unskilled people to fight. But former Apprentice star Ryan supported bringing back national service, wanting to show today's youth are not weak or snowflakey. The poll showed 64% opposed conscription, agreeing with Craig that while people would volunteer to defend borders, conscripting them to fight abroad is very different.

Takeaways

• 😨 The head of the British army warned the public could be called up to fight if the UK came under attack
• 😕 The UK's military is too small to deal with a real war
• 🤔 In an effort to protect Britain, there is discussion around bringing back national service
• 😠 A former Royal Marine said unskilled soldiers would be produced and he'd rather it didn't happen
• 😃 A former Apprentice star said he'd love to do his bit and thinks national service should come back
• 🧐 The former marine thinks the government should build communities and national pride instead of pay cuts to the military
• 😌 The former marine said people, especially youth, would likely rise to the occasion if pressed to fight
• 👎 The former marine thinks forcing people to fight is a terrible idea
• 😤 The former Apprentice star likened national service to summer camp and said young people today are too weak and need to step up
• 🤷‍♂️ In a poll, 36% supported bringing back national service while 64% opposed it

Q & A

What warning did General Patrick Sanders give about the size of the UK's military?

He warned that the UK's military is too small to deal with a real war, with only around 70,000 troops compared to over 200,000 a few years ago.

What are the views of former Royal Marine Craig Aworth on bringing back national service?

Craig thinks it's a bad idea to force people into military service. He believes the government should focus on building national pride and communities to encourage voluntary service instead.

What threat does Russia potentially pose to Europe according to the discussion?

The discussants suggest Russia's war with Ukraine could potentially spill over into the rest of Europe in the future. The UK military may not be large enough currently to respond effectively.

What does Ryan Mark Parsons say about young people and national service?

Ryan believes many young people today are too weak and lack resilience. He thinks bringing back national service would be good for them and would volunteer himself as an example.

What does Craig say is the difference between securing borders and invading other countries?

Craig argues that securing a nation's own borders with a conscripted force is more reasonable than invading foreign nations miles away, which requires a voluntary professional army.

What does General Patrick Sanders say about regular armies versus citizen armies?

He says regular armies start wars, but citizen armies win wars. Implying a conscripted citizen force could be very effective for national defense.

What percent of poll respondents supported bringing back national service according to the show?

36% said yes they would support it, while 64% agreed with Craig that they did not think it was a good idea.

What recent examples of national service does Ryan Mark Parsons give?

He points to Sweden having national service still, as well as the UK having conscripted 17-21 year olds in 1949 during peacetime after WWII.

What motivations does Ryan give for young people volunteering to serve?

Ryan believes many young people are looking for opportunities to prove themselves and gain confidence. He thinks national service could provide this.

What critiques does Craig Aworth have of the government's treatment of the military leading to recruitment issues?

Craig is critical of massive pay cuts and funding reductions in recent years, which he blames for driving many to leave the forces.