National service could help tackle loneliness - Ross

Mandatory national service would be a "great opportunity" for young people, according to the Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.

Under the Tory plan, 18-year-olds could apply for one of 30,000 full-time military placements or spend a weekend a month carrying out community service.

Mr Ross said it would give young people the chance to get involved in the military, police or NHS while voluntary work could tackle loneliness among older people.

The SNP said it was a "sticking plaster" response to cuts in defence spending while Scottish Labour denounced it as an unfunded "gimmick".

The national service idea was announced as a surprise election pledge by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak late on on Saturday.

Non-military volunteering would involve 25 days with organisations such as the fire service, the police and the NHS.

Under the plan the first teenagers would to take part in a pilot from September 2025, with details to be worked out by a Royal Commission.

The Conservatives said they would work with devolved administrations to create a model that would work across the UK.

Under the plan the first teenagers would to take part in a pilot from September 2025, with details to be worked out by a Royal Commission.

The Conservatives said they would work with devolved administrations to create a model that would work across the UK.

Mr Ross told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show: "We know that young people were one of the biggest cohorts of people affected by the pandemic.

"I welcome any opportunity to give young people the chance, perhaps, to get involved in the military service, the police or the NHS - but also there is a large opportunity to get involved in the voluntary sector."

He said loneliness was a big issue in Scotland which could be addressed by the plan.

"Perhaps we could help give opportunities for young people but also help older people who are feeling lonely in Scotland," he said.

'Sticking plaster'

The SNP's deputy leader Keith Brown, himself a former Royal Marine and Falklands veteran, said he was firmly against the idea.

"It's a sticking plaster to cover up the disinvestment there's been in the armed forces," he told the programme.

"We've said since 2005 when the Scottish regiments were amalgamated, we've said that you're going to have a problem with recruitment - and the recruitment and retention for the armed forces in the UK has been abysmal."

Mr Brown said he backed an increase in defence spending but the solution was to provide better salaries, housing and training to make the armed forces more attractive as a career.

"Give them the boots, the tanks, the helicopters - the equipment that they need - but give them a worthwhile house first of all and salary to make sure they can live a normal life in terms of standard of living," he said.

'Uncosted gimmick'

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the national service plan was a "gimmick".

"I think it's a policy they've announced to distract away from both their record and also their disastrous election campaign so far," he told The Sunday Show.

"A £2.5bn commitment - that they haven't said where the money's going to come from.

"If there's £2.5bn available that should be spent on stabilising our economy, it should be spent on delivering for our NHS, it should be spent on changing and transforming out public services."

Christine Jardine, for the Scottish Lib Dems, criticised the mandatory aspect of the Tory plans.

"Put that money by all means into our defences but don't do it by taking choice and opportunity away for young people," she said.

"Yes the armed forces can be a great career - but that's a choice people should make."

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie described the plan as "absurd, immoral and desperate".