'Teenage Dad's Army'...Labour leader mocks PM's National Service planch

SIR Keir Starmer dodged questions over whether he supported the principle of National Service in his first keynote speech of the General Election campaign.

- Michael Knowles

Mocking Rishi Sunak's pledge to bring back the compulsory scheme for 18-year-olds, the Labour leader called it a "teenage Dad's Army".

But he failed to answer a question on whether there was "enthusiasm" among young people -including his teenage son and his friends about signing up for it.

And he sidestepped whether or not he supported the principle of National Service - which the Government says will help teenagers get out of their "bubble".

Sir Keir told reporters: "I do accept the proposition that we need strong defences, and that has to be the first duty of any government, but I think this plan is desperate.

"I don't think it'll work. You've seen what military experts have said about it. You've seen what the Government said about it just a few days ago when they were asked, that it would take away from the resources of the military rather than help the military."