S P E E C H & D E B AT E
This House Believes...
THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REINTRODUCE
NATIONAL SERVICE
PROPOSITION {
PETE DOUGHTON}
I
am strongly in favour of
reintroducing National Service.
We can no longer pretend it
is illegitimate for the state to call on
its people to augment our necessary
military capability, or ignore the key
benefits, as follows:
The politics of war and intervention
will be based in reality, not myth
Government policy on war and
intervention is inevitably (and rightly)
guided by public opinion, which is
currently skewed by an emotional
response to media coverage of recent
conflicts, rather than being grounded in
the facts.
12 | dialogue
If we reintroduce National Service,
people will be more informed about the
operation, and therefore capability, of
the British Armed Forces. Further, they
will be more able and willing to remain
informed about military operations. This
will result in better decisions being made
about when and how to intervene.
Societal cohesion will be enhanced
National Service brings people from
all strata of society together. It is an
excellent way to remove people from the
isolation of their social bubble, giving
them an insight into the lives of others.
Further, National Service provides a
unique environment in which this can
“National Service
brings people from
all strata of society
together. It is an
excellent way to
remove people from
the isolation of their
social bubble…”
occur: the focus on teamwork and the
necessity of forming tight bonds with
others cuts through many barriers. The
result is a more empathetic society with a
greater understanding of others.
It is legitimate for the State to require
National Service from the population
The benefits we receive from living
collectively are numerous. An effective
military is a necessary part of the defence
of our nation. We may wish to ignore
such uncomfortable truths; to pretend
there is a diminished need for a military
and to renounce culpability as a nation
for the work done on our behalf, but in
reality the state must demand that we
open our eyes and play our part in order
that our nation can continue to be a force
for good on the global stage.