With the General Election less than a month away, the County Press asked candidates standing for Isle of Wight West what they think about national service.

Should the Conservatives win the General Election, Rishi Sunak said he wanted to reintroduce it for 18-year-olds.

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".

We asked the five candidates standing to represent the Island's West constituency what they thought...

For the Isle of Wight Green Party, Cameron Palin said: "First Rishi wanted to force maths down young peoples throats until they're 18 and now this.

"When talking to young people, initially laughed it off until they realised this was not just a meme circulating on TikTok but instead, supposedly a serious idea!

"It make me wonder why Rishi and the Conservatives hate our young people so much?

"Our young people have been though an incredibly tough time, particularly now post-covid, RAAC crisis in schools, pressures of exams, mental health, societal pressures and much more.

"Rather than this, back of the fag packet idea, I would like to see our young people 16 and 17 year olds get the vote and let their voices be heard."

Reform UK's Ian Pickering said: "I don’t know how this National Service could ever be meaningful. It’s a voluntary scheme and a gimmick from a beleaguered Tory Prime Minister.

"However we do need to recruit to the Armed Services because we need a strong defence force in the UK and we must increase spending to three per cent of GDP.

"We need to recruit, to anything, the committed rather than the mandated. Joining the Armed Services should be made a career option for life, in that having learned a skill or a trade further training should be given at the end of a person’s service so that their skills can be transferred to civilian life.

"Former service personnel are a wasted resource perishing on the vine."

Richard Quigley, for Island Labour, said: "Terrible idea.

"What would really help 18 year olds, would be an education that is delivered by motivated and qualified teachers, that society values.

"Encouraging the studying of sport, music and the arts as well as Maths and English. 

"Ensuring specialist subjects are taught by teachers qualified in the subject. Access to technical qualifications and decent apprenticeships will enable 18 year olds to find well paid work if University isn't for them. 

"The scheme is un costed, doesn't asses the impact on the job market or what impact it will have on those studying and working part time, nor does it state to whom it applies."

Conservative Bob Seely said: "We have so much to be proud of as a country, but we also need to be open and honest about the long-term challenges that our country and our society faces.

"One of the challenges we want to tackle is that we have generations of young people who don’t have the opportunities they deserve.

"That is why we will introduce a bold new model of National Service for 18-year-olds, to be spent in a competitive, full-time military placement over 12 months or with 25 days (equivalent to one weekend per month) volunteering roles in the community, like as a special constable, RNLI volunteer, or NHS responder. 

"This will give young people real world skills while contributing to their country and community. It will help with social cohesion and bring young people together.

"Uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future. Our plan will ensure the youngest generations get the opportunity and skills needed to meet the challenges of an uncertain world."

For the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats, Nick Stuart said: "As a former soldier the idea is ludicrous and the Govt grasping of straws with expensive gimmicks is sad.

"It does not help young people who need better education, careers guidance and increasingly mental health support.

"If you want to increase the forces from the lowest level for some 200 years conscription is worse than useless as experienced forces personal are tied up on a treadmill of training the unprepared and unwilling. While community help on an occasional basis will provide nothing to benefit either the public or the participants.

"Rebuilding our armed forces needs more than coercion of young people it needs trainers, equipment and working closer with allies not pretending we can go it alone."

For Isle of Wight East, Emily Brothers is standing for Labour; Michael Lilley for the Lib Dems; Vix Lowthion for the Green Party; Sarah Morris for Reform UK and Joe Robertson for the Conservatives