Like, for example, identity cards, National Service is an idea that has been doing the rounds for as long as I can remember. The Thatcher, Major, Blair and Brown Governments all flirted with both of them, cheered on by the Loony Rights of their respective parties, which were the internal party bases of Thatcher and Blair, in particular. This is Rory Stewart's pitch to the Right.
In fact, there have been calls for the return of National Service ever since it was abolished (by a Conservative Government), based on entirely post facto claims that it had "brought people together" and what have you. Those claims were questionable in themselves, and in any case they had had absolutely nothing to do with why it had existed in the first place.
The last date of birth for being called up was 30th September 1939, so no one who ever did National Service can now be younger than 79. And women never had to do it, anyway. Well, if, as I have been hearing all my life, National Service was so wonderful, then why not have all those generations who missed out on it do it? After all, they are now well into leaving the workforce. Begin with everyone who was born on 1st October 1939, and work from there. Tell them to do it, or get no pension. After all, they must have spent most of their lives cursing their missed opportunity.
There is no point claiming that Stewart is not going to win the Conservative Party Leadership Election. He has floated this idea, and there is no reason to assume that no one else will take it up. Whoever wins this admittedly absurd contest is indeed going to become Prime Minister in a few weeks' time. That will be a Brexiteer only if such a person were among the two names submitted to Conservative Party members by that party's MPs.
If both of those names were Remainers, then a Remainer would become Prime Minister. Even a Remainer who had once nearly joined the Lib Dems and who had in fact been a member of Neil Kinnock's Labour Party. Indeed, especially a Remainer who had once nearly joined the Lib Dems and who had in fact been a member of Neil Kinnock's Labour Party.
Another hung Parliament is coming, however, we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. A new party will be registered before House of Commons rises for the summer recess, even if I have to pay for it myself, ongoing lawfare or no ongoing lawfare. And I will stand for Parliament here at North West Durham even if I can raise only the deposit, which I could do by going pretty overdrawn, although that was not how I was brought up. I would still prefer to raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign, but I am no longer making my candidacy conditional on having done so. In any event, please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.
If both of those names were Remainers, then a Remainer would become Prime Minister. Even a Remainer who had once nearly joined the Lib Dems and who had in fact been a member of Neil Kinnock's Labour Party. Indeed, especially a Remainer who had once nearly joined the Lib Dems and who had in fact been a member of Neil Kinnock's Labour Party.
Another hung Parliament is coming, however, we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. A new party will be registered before House of Commons rises for the summer recess, even if I have to pay for it myself, ongoing lawfare or no ongoing lawfare. And I will stand for Parliament here at North West Durham even if I can raise only the deposit, which I could do by going pretty overdrawn, although that was not how I was brought up. I would still prefer to raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign, but I am no longer making my candidacy conditional on having done so. In any event, please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.
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