Candidates standing to be Isle of Wight East MP in next month's General Election have been having their say on national service.

Rishi Sunak said he wanted to reintroduce it for 18-year-olds, should the Conservatives pick up enough votes.

He said young people would be given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year “volunteering".

The County Press gave the five East hopefuls 120 words to tell us their thoughts on national service...

Island Labour's Emily Brothers said: "The Tories are clearly desperate. There is no plan and no costings.

“Labour is in lock-step taking forward our five missions, whilst the Tories are flailing around trying to grasp at something, but not even their captain in Isle of Wight East can avoid the sense of consternation.

“I believe the suggestion to bring back mandatory National Service is a ridiculous gimmick. It would mean Joe Robertson marching his Dad’s Army of teenagers around Bembridge shouting ‘don’t panic, don’t panic’ as the Tories implode.

“Labour has a serious plan to carry out a strategic defence and security review, to make sure that we're well prepared for all of the challenges we face as a country into the future".

For the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats, Michael Lilley said: "I find it strange that the Conservatives are announcing this policy when it was they who cut funding for youth services across the country.

"The past Isle of Wight Conservative Administration also cut funding for the Duke of Edinburgh Award; a scheme that already delivers much of what they want to achieve with the idea of National Service.

"In response to government cuts, I supported Ryde Town Council to establish award-winning Network Ryde Youth Services and secure the funding for the new Town centre based youth centre which will open in July 2024.

"RTC has supported and funded the Duke of Edinburgh Award with many young people across the Island taking part."

Vix Lowthion, for the Isle of Wight Green Party, said: "I do not support Rishi’s ill-thought out plans.

"As a parent of three teenage boys - who take part in scouts and boxing (thank you, volunteers) and shifts at Oxfam – they already give back to society without it being compulsory.

"It would be preferable if more time was given over in the school curriculum to vocational skills, team work and opportunities outside of the classroom.

"Young people are the generation who already gave up years at home during covid, who will struggle to afford a house, who leave university with huge debts, who endure too many high stakes exams and who have lost their free-movement across Europe.

"How dare the Conservatives use them as political footballs like this."

Sarah Morris, for Reform UK, said: "Although National Service might be popular with some, it is in fact unworkable due to our armed forces dropping from 100,000 to 75,000 under this government.

"You would need an extra 20,000 just to facilitate the training and supervision of these extra personnel.

"I do think that some form of giving back to your country is a good thing, and I would encourage young people to take up the challenge that is the Duke of Edinburgh award.

"A large part is volunteering in your community. These ideas are being floated by Rishi in the hopes of bringing back some patriotic voters to the Conservatives, it hasn’t been thought through and won’t work."

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For the Isle of Wight Conservatives, Joe Robertson said: "The plans for national service do not involve people having to do military training unless they want to.

"For the majority it will involve a day a month over 12 months volunteering in the community - such as working with the NHS, or charities tackling  loneliness and supporting older people.

"As someone who works for a charity doing these things myself I believe it would benefit society as a whole if young people were to share in community activities helping others.

"It is something I would be keen for my own children to do, and something that happens in many other countries."

In Isle of Wight West, parliamentary candidates standing are Green Party's Cameron Palin; Ian Pickering, Reform UK candidate; Richard Quigley, of Island Labour; Conservative Bob Seely and Liberal Democrat's Nick Stuart.

Isle of Wight County Press: IW West candidates talk national service.