GB News presenter Nigel Farage has shown support for Penny Mordaunt’s plans to reintroduce national service in England.
The former Brexit Party leader said it could go a long way to addressing the class divide.
According to centre-right think thank Onward, reintroducing national service, which ended in the 1960s, could help tackle the UK’s “growing youth crisis”.
The idea has been backed by House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, only preferring an optional as opposed to a mandated service.
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Under Onward’s proposals, 16-year-olds would be automatically enrolled into the national service with the chance to opt-out.
GB News’ Farage told Onward’s Deputy Director Adam Hawksbee that he supports the group’s proposals.
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“I hope this isn’t an issue that isn’t seen as left or right”, he said.
“This should be about people coming together, feeling a shared identity, belonging to it and giving to it.
“All I can say is I genuinely wish you will with this. I am 100% behind you.”
The former UKIP leader added that the plan could help address the class divide that exists in Britain.
Onward's Adam Hawksbee has called for a return to national service
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“To be honest, the biggest divide in Britain is now is the class divide”, he said.
“There is a huge divide. The idea that everyone mixes together I think is a very good idea.”
Speaking on GB News, Hawksbee revealed the next steps that need to be taken in order for the plan to be put into action, admitting a great deal of political support is required.
He said: “We’re blown away by the amount of public support.
“Young people themselves, 18-25 in our poll, three to one supported a national service poll.
“This is something that young people are after. This is something they want, as long as it’s not compulsory, they’re up for it.
“What you’re going to need is a political who says ‘I back this, and I’m going to invest in this’, we calculate it will cost about a billion a year, that’s a significant ramp up.
“They’ve got to support it, invest in it, and make a case that this is an investment in young peoples’ future.”
