Young people are right to resent national service

Young Britons like me have already done our fair share of national service. For two gruelling years, we sacrificed the best years of our lives to protect the elderly from Covid, dutifully abiding by each arbitrary restriction on our freedoms. Parties were cancelled, concerts were postponed, and evenings were spent alone, all in the name of national solidarity. Like most of my peers, my memories of university life will forever be tarnished by lockdowns, social distancing, and Zoom lectures.

Even now Covid is over we still face sky-high house prices, crippling student debt, and a historically high tax burden, which squeezes working-age people in order to fund the ever-increasing cost of social care and the state pension. For our troubles, we are rewarded with endless columns from ageing commentators about how we are all lazy, petulant snowflakes. Our institutions preach about the inherent sinfulness of Britain and its past, while our politicians fail to rescue us from our impending national decline.

If we want young people to step up and take responsibility, we must also make sure that Britain is a country in which they can prosper and put down roots

Last night, the Conservatives announced that if elected they will seek to reintroduce national service for 18-year-olds.