WHEN I mentioned some form of national service for the workshy recently, I was predictably derided, mainly by those on the Left.
I am a Conservative and believe in the freedom of the individual to lead their lives, free of burdensome State interference.
However, on occasions, a situation is so serious that a stick has to be considered.
The carrot, of course, is a young man or woman imbued with a new sense of purpose and self-esteem.
My Grandfather, who was a prolific writer, said that citizens owed their country a sense of service.
I agree, and with this in mind, some startling statistics prompted me to say what I did.
At the last count in mid-April, the Office for National Statistics found that 9.4million people of working age were ‘economically inactive’ in Britain.
That means, not in, nor looking for work.
And while that number contains carers, students, the retired and the long-term sick, it represents an eight-year high.
Included are over three million 16-24 year olds, a full 43 per cent of them.
What an appalling waste.
Many causes are mooted, including the pandemic, lack of opportunity and a perverse benefits system.
As a former Army officer, I have trained young men at the Guards Depot, some from troubled backgrounds, and seen for myself how routine, discipline and education give them a new lease of life.
They carry these necessary skills with them for the rest of their lives, whether in the Services or out of them.
Interestingly, the same lessons, delivered by serving Paras to young offenders at the YOI on Portland, produced astonishing results.
After undergoing the ‘Airborne Initiative’ course, pioneered by former MP Sir Jim Spicer, re-offending fell.
Regrettably, due to lack of resources, the programme is now limited to Feltham Youth Offenders’ Institution, which is a great shame.
Of course, national service does not necessarily need to be military, nor mandatory, but there are countries where it works.
Norway, Denmark and Sweden have compulsory, highly selective and targeted national service for teenagers.
In Norway, being selected – and just 17 per cent were this year – is so prestigious that teenagers compete for conscription.
Open to both sexes – 36 per cent this year were women – who go on to special training and development in civilian or military specialities.
Jobs follow, plus sponsored further education, making it preferable to university for many.
The programme is so successful that a quarter of conscripts join the regulars, of particular interest in the UK, where we are struggling to recruit and retain.
Alternatively, a national citizenship service could see the young working on environmental, health or educational projects.
Already, the Scouts, Prince’s Trust, VSO and the British Red Cross offer volunteering opportunities to young people.
For the country’s sake, and that of those who refuse to work, surely the time has come to compel them to participate in some kind of national service.
Who knows, they may find, as I suspect they will, that it’s a virtuous circle.