Politics

Audience laughs as Rishi Sunak reveals sanctions for refusing National Service on BBC Question Time

The PM has beforehand stated he wished the scheme to have “the right mix” of sanctions and incentives – however now he is been pressed into revealing a number of the choices



Rishi Sunak stumbles over National Service ‘sanctions’

Rishi Sunak has lastly revealed what the sanctions will likely be for refusing to do National Service – and he was laughed at.

The PM has beforehand stated he wished the scheme to have “the right mix” of sanctions and incentives – which might be determined by a Royal Commission. But pressed for examples by host Fiona Bruce on the BBC Question Time Leaders’ Special, the Prime Minister ultimately blurted out some prospects.




“How will you make people do it,” she requested. “Sorry?” The PM replied.

“If National Service is going to be compulsory, how will you make people do It?” Ms Bruce requested once more. The PM stated: “Well you’ll have a set of sanctions and incentives, and we’ll look at the models that are existing around Europe to get the appropriate mix of those.”

Ms Bruce requested once more: “Like what?” Mr Sunak stated: “There’s a range of different options that exist.”

“For example?” Ms Bruce requested. “There’s all sorts of things that people do around Europe, whether that’s looking at driving licences, other access to finance, all sorts of other things,” the Tory chief stated.


“Access to finance? So if people don’t want to do National service you take their bank cards away? They can’t get a loan?” Ms Bruce requested. The viewers started to snigger at this level.

Mr Sunak stated: “There’s lots of different models around Europe – this has been done in multiple countries in Europe. There’s a range of things and we’ll have a Royal Commission look at those, come back to the government and recommend what the right thing in terms of incentives and sanctions should be.”


The PM steered it might be “politicising the armed forces during an election campaign” to reply to criticism of his nationwide service coverage.

Asked about feedback from Lord West of Spithead, a former chief of the naval workers and Labour peer, who’s reported to have referred to as the coverage “bonkers”, Mr Sunak advised the BBC Question Time viewers: “Well it wouldn’t be appropriate to start politicising the armed forces during an election campaign.”

The Prime Minister insisted the navy route was non-compulsory, regardless of the proposed nationwide service scheme being obligatory.

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