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Tory policies drive wedge between young and old people, conference hears

In its election manifesto, the party pledged to make national service compulsory for 18-year-olds.

Rhiannon James
Tuesday 01 October 2024 12:35 BST
The Tories wanted to reintroduce national service (Ben Birchall/PA)
The Tories wanted to reintroduce national service (Ben Birchall/PA) (PA Archive)

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Tory policies such as the national service scheme drive a wedge between the younger and older generations, the Conservative Party conference has heard.

In its election manifesto, the party pledged to make national service compulsory for 18-year-olds, with the choice of military service or one weekend a month volunteering locally.

The policy, which was estimated to cost Ā£2.5 billion, received a ministerial backlash, with then-Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker arguing the proposal was ā€œsprung on candidatesā€.

Elsewhere, during the debate on the main stage in Birmingham, the chairwoman of the Scottish Young Tories said she was ā€œterrifiedā€ to tell people she is a Conservative member.

Things like national service was probably designed to play off younger people and older people, and when you've got a rising age of Conservative voter it is incredibly unsustainable

Councillor Olly Scargill

On Tuesday, North Tyneside councillor Olly Scargill said: ā€œI think in the general election some of what we campaigned upon was a wedge issue, wedge issues between young people and older people.

ā€œThings like national service was probably designed to play off younger people and older people, and when youā€™ve got a rising age of Conservative voter it is incredibly unsustainable.

ā€œWhat we need to do I think is we need to find a way to move the party to become more pro-housebuilding.

ā€œAnd delivering more credible options for young people who want to be economically secure, and who are aspirational, that is a Conservative, those people should be voting Conservative, but theyā€™re not.ā€

He added: ā€œWeā€™ve been using house-building as a wedge issue and I just donā€™t think itā€™s sustainable.ā€

Later in the debate, chairwoman of the Scottish Young Tories Holly Moscrop described her experience of ā€œoutingā€ herself as a Conservative.

She told conference: ā€œItā€™s taking that step to join it, publicly outing yourself as a Conservative is a very big step.

ā€œI used to be terrified to tell people that I was a Conservative because I knew what the reaction was going to be, and it was never nice.ā€

Meanwhile, shadow ministers Andrew Bowie and Mims Davies used some of their time on the main stage to discuss long-time anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray.

The discussion began with Mr Scargill stating: ā€œWhat I found really interesting this year is I went outside and the only protester there is Steve Bray.ā€

Ms Davies then said: ā€œAnd heā€™s not fun, not fun on the ears, not if youā€™ve had an office next to him for what feels like several decades.ā€

Mr Bowie chipped in: ā€œMaybe heā€™s following Margaret Thatcherā€™s mantra: itā€™s always better where the Tories are, thatā€™s why heā€™s decided to come to Birmingham.

ā€œBut he looked very sad and alone standing out in the rain in his EU hat and his flag, and his loudspeaker. Like come inside, itā€™s much better in here, he declined the offer ā€“ thank god.ā€

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