Conscripts under Conservative plans - at stations and perhaps with CRPs?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The papers and general TV feeds this morning are full of proposals from the current government to bring back National Service in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), and I suspect that much of this may relate to them looking to attract members of the electorate who would traditionally vote for them (Conservative party) but are tempted to vote for Reform this time.  BUT ... underneath the headlines is "or volunteering "n" hours per week in uniform to help public sector services".

I am minded of the police / military past connection with railways in the past, with signalmen known as "Bobbies" which name in turn came to the police from Robert Peel.

Is there scope to have young people based at public transport locations, in customer service roles - looking after the station facilities (including cleaning the loos), helping with ticketing and information, and physically getting to their trains and boarding, knowing how to contact and how to provide help from away from the station if that's needed, and perhaps be able to serve teas and coffees?

[Red Squirrel]

Inspired by Happy Days, Season 5, Episode 3?

[Western Pathfinder]

Can't see this happening in any shape or form it's just not affordable ,pre election bs designed to occupy press and medial so the eye is off the ball when it comes to other matters in my not so humble opinion

[Oxonhutch]

Inspired by Happy Days, Season 5, Episode 3?

I was thinking more 'Yes, Prime Minister'. The Grand Design

[eXPassenger]

Called 'policemen' because on the early railways the signallers operated like traffic policemen halting trains by hand signals.

[TaplowGreen]

Is there scope to have young people based at public transport locations, in customer service roles - looking after the station facilities (including cleaning the loos), helping with ticketing and information, and physically getting to their trains and boarding, knowing how to contact and how to provide help from away from the station if that's needed, and perhaps be able to serve teas and coffees?

A worthy thought, but if the Government were serious about improving the landscape for young people, they should be bringing back apprenticeships, not National Service.

[ChrisB]

Just trying it out to gauge reaction....let's see if it features in their manifesto

[ChrisB]

Is there scope to have young people based at public transport locations, in customer service roles - looking after the station facilities (including cleaning the loos), helping with ticketing and information, and physically getting to their trains and boarding, knowing how to contact and how to provide help from away from the station if that's needed, and perhaps be able to serve teas and coffees?

What say you, RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers)? hmmm, thought not, & rightly so.

[paul7575]

Is there scope to have young people based at public transport locations, in customer service roles - looking after the station facilities (including cleaning the loos), helping with ticketing and information, and physically getting to their trains and boarding, knowing how to contact and how to provide help from away from the station if that's needed, and perhaps be able to serve teas and coffees?

A worthy thought, but if the Government were serious about improving the landscape for young people, they should be bringing back apprenticeships, not National Service.

Proper apprenticeships as well. Not pretend apprenticeships in places like shops just to get subsidy…

[broadgage]

I can see some merits in the use of conscripted labour, but not primarily on railways, which are complex and highly unionised.

Worthwhile uses could include, building hospitals, schools and social housing, all of which are badly needed and would provide training in building and construction.
Installing PV modules on public buildings.

Conserving and repairing the natural environment, restoring wetlands, and footpaths, assisting in removing flytipped refuse.

Assisting the regular armed forces during natural disasters such as floods and other extreme conditions.

[CyclingSid]

building hospitals, schools and social housing

no thanks we have enough jerry-built hospitals built under PFI, which Labour are keen on restarting. The organisation I work for has two PFI millstones around its neck (with another 20 years to pay).

Most in the military suggest that the idea would further dilute our Armed Forces, taking staff from the front line for training. Reintroducing conscription was never a popular idea when I was in. Some in the military have said use the Scouts or Cadet Forces.

Apprenticeships are still around, but tend not to be used for the younger age group, more for retraining the older generation.

[Ralph Ayres]

Scouts, Girlguiding and other youth organisations local to me already struggle to find enough leaders, so unless the plan is also to conscript older people to do that there will have to be another way to run this "volunteering" (really not voluntary, just unpaid), which I suspect those proposing it have not even started to think about.  The whole concept of organising around 700,000 untrained and initially unenthusiastic 18 year olds to do regular voluntary work is an impractical nonsense, possibly even dreamt up as a deliberate distraction from discussing or opposing more realistic policy proposals.

[broadgage]

building hospitals, schools and social housing

no thanks we have enough jerry-built hospitals built under PFI, which Labour are keen on restarting. The organisation I work for has two PFI millstones around its neck (with another 20 years to pay).

Most in the military suggest that the idea would further dilute our Armed Forces, taking staff from the front line for training. Reintroducing conscription was never a popular idea when I was in. Some in the military have said use the Scouts or Cadet Forces.

Apprenticeships are still around, but tend not to be used for the younger age group, more for retraining the older generation.

Need not be jerry built. Select any competent building firm to plan, design, and oversee the work, but with the majority of the labour force being conscripts. Useful skills would be learnt.

[TonyK]

Need not be jerry built. Select any competent building firm to plan, design, and oversee the work, but with the majority of the labour force being conscripts. Useful skills would be learnt.

Public buildings are done by the lowest bidder. Having the majority of the workforce as conscripts is a disaster waiting to happen, even without having to pay benefits and find work for those displaced from their jobs by people who know nothing about building and don't want to be there in the first place. They are 18 years old, and could be looking for a job instead.

[Surrey 455]

In the interest of balance, broadcaster and writer Danny Wallace has a different proposal 

https://twitter.com/dannywallace/status/1794779089385165294

Dad's Army was a valuable blueprint for a safe and protected Britain. I think when you reach 70, five years of service in the Home Guard should be mandatory. Otherwise pensioners face arrest or involuntary fruit picking.