Havering poll reveals 60% of residents support plan to reintroduce National Service.
The poll of over 1500 Havering residents shows 60% support the Conservatives’ plan to reintroduce National Service.
Romford Councillor David Taylor today writes in the Havering Daily.
Over the Bank Holiday weekend, Rishi Sunak announced that the Conservatives would reintroduce National Service, if in government after the next election. The plans announced included options for 18yr olds to either experience a year of service in the armed forces, or to give up one weekend a month to volunteer in the community.
Examples of voluntary service included helping the NHS, blue-light services and charities. Military service would be a second option with those taking part learning logistics, cyber security and procurement.
The scheme would not force young people to take part in military service.
Following the announcement, there has been a mixed reaction. However, a majority of Havering Residents have indicated support for the scheme. A poll run by Councillor David Taylor, Romford, saw over 1500 residents respond with 60% supporting the proposals.
Councillor Taylor said;
“It is clear, from the Havering wide survey, that most residents are in favour of reintroducing National Service.
Rishi’s proposals modernise a scheme that was in operation over a generation ago, this time focusing on community participation through voluntary work. Alongside that, a year of learning cyber-security with the military would give our youth a competitive edge in this growing area of employment.
Asking 18yr olds to give up one weekend a month is not a large ask but could go a long way to reinforcing community cohesion. We could certainly benefit here in Havering”.
Following questions from residents, Councillor Taylor has said that he has not yet made his mind up as to whether the scheme would be a good idea. However, Taylor said, those opposing should put forward alternatives instead of just rejecting the plan.
“It is clear that we need to do something to encourage the next generation of Brits to give back to their community”, Councillor Taylor continued, “By taking part in voluntary work, the scheme will give young adults a sense of pride and belonging to where they grew up. That can’t be a bad thing. Those who oppose this scheme should outline how they would achieve that same result”.
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How will penalising 18 year old Boys and Girls cure the problems this County is facing. It’s just another wild idea from Rishi Sunak. I’m afraid this shows he really can’t think of a real solution to this Countries problems. Not that Labour will be able to either, should they win the election.
Does it never occur to our overpaid MPs that the sticking plaster over the cracks solutions they offer just won’t work anymore (not that they ever did work) and that the public will eventually rise up in despair against policies from any party in power.
I imagine those people in favour of this latest, lame idea are well over 18 years old and just want to blame youngsters. Most young people are just the same as we were at that age but have been born into an overcrowded Country with an unworkable system.
At 80, I think I have been part of the lucky generation. Too young to have been in the Second World War but old enough to have been able to buy my home and enjoy retirement. How hard it will be for youngsters now and they are now facing this stupid idea of bringing back National service.
60% ‘in favour’ ?
Until their Johnny gets called-up…..then it’ll be ‘Oh, Johnny can’t do it because….’ and ‘You should be excused if (enter Johnny’s particular ‘issue’ here)…’
It’s the same as when people call for cuts to this budget or savings to that budget. When it becomes ‘OK, we’re going to close YOUR local hospital/library/school’, it changes to ‘NO! Save our hospital/library/school’
All I can assume is that 60% of Havering residents have been duped.
The Tories have not announced a fully fledged plan. Instead, they have put forward a broad outline and said they would set up a royal commission – a type of public inquiry – tasked with coming up with the details if they win the election.
While they aim to have a military training test programme up and running by 2025, that is likely to involve relatively small numbers.
The Tories have committed to getting the whole scheme in force by “the end of the next parliament”, which could be as late as 2029.
It would be made up of two broad streams for 18-year-olds to choose from:
Community volunteering: Spending one weekend every month – which equates to 25 days over a 12-month period – volunteering with organisations such as the NHS, fire service, ambulance, search and rescue, and critical local infrastructure
Military training: Applying for one of up to 30,000 “selective” military placements reserved for teenagers deemed the “brightest and the best” in areas like logistics, cyber security, procurement or civil response operations over a year-long period (please note, no mention of anything like marching, drills, training for a battle)
As approximately 775,000 people turn 18 in a year, the vast majority of 18-year-olds would not take part in any military training at all. Of the total only 1 in 26 will see ‘military training’, the other 25 will be wiping bums in the local hospital / care home.
Just out of interest, I suspect nearly 60% of teenagers already do voluntary work.
Can you please get a better picture of Councillor Taylor, the current one conveys an air ofd arrogant smugness which does him no favours, even though he is totally wrong in this case
I wonder what attrition rate the advocates of this idea find acceptable?
Placing anyone in a potentially dangerous situation will increase the risk of death or serious injury, that is simply statistics.
So how many of the 775,000 18 year olds is it acceptable to lose each year?
As Cllr Taylor is apparently not a qualified psephologist, I wonder how he managed to take a properly conducted ‘opinion poll’ and do a statistically correct analysis in the two days between the proposal being announced and his claim being released?
I assume he didn’t pay YouGov or another of the established polling companies to conduct this work?
If he is interested, there is a useful guide here, https://www.britishpollingcouncil.org/faqs-about-polling/, but you don’t just stand outside Tescos or a couple of hours.
As such, I believe his results are more ‘opinion’ than ‘poll’, and the headline claim is nonsense and not a reflection of the opinions of the people of Havering.
As my old math’s teacher used to say, show your working.
Councillor Taylor may not be a qualified psephologist but he has conducted extensive research on the great ‘Cream Eggs v Mini-Eggs’ debate within his Facebook group. His MCIPR ‘qualification’ will be invaluable in his ultimate quest to become a darling of the Conservative Party faithful (eventually).
I’ve asked David (and a few other Councillors) to ask their Residents how they feel about the supposed ‘Climate Emergency’ declared by Havering Councillors in March 2023 (when not one single Councillor voted AGAINST the motion).
Of course all 55 Councillors know far more about the ‘Climate Emergency’ than us plebs and it’s a mere coincidence that they all ‘think’🤔the same way.
Councillors David Taylor and Gillian Ford (HRA)have blocked me from their Facebook groups for raising this issue – they both told me to ‘go away and do some research’.
I’ve offered to carry out an opinion poll on the ‘Climate Emergency’ for them (if they are too busy).
I invited them to set the question(s) and suggest the appropriate sample size but they’re just not interested.
Perhaps the Havering Daily might want to get involved?
How did he conduct this survey? Its a nonsense idea from a party desperate to appeal to their right wing. They know they will never have to implement it. What else will they suggest bringing back? Hanging? The cane?
How many of the 1500 were 17?