Jobseekers who repeatedly turn down work should be conscripted for two years, a Tory MP has said.
Richard Drax, a member of the Commons Defence Select Committee, said there is a growing issue with work-shy young people.
The former Army captain told The House magazine: “In some cases, particularly among some of the young, they have got to a point where, for whatever reason, they’re not prepared to contribute to our country and to serve their country.
“If they can’t be encouraged to do that, then maybe we’ve got to a point where they should be told to do so.
“And if they’ve refused three offers of a job, or whatever the number would be, and they say ‘I’m sorry, I’m not doing any of that’, you then say – in which case you must go and do two years in the Armed Forces.”
The South Dorset MP also suggested that young offenders could have their sentences cut for good behaviour if they agreed to sign up to the Army.
He said: “Let’s say [a young person] has 10 pints of beer, slugs somebody and is locked up for it.
“If you get that sort of behaviour, you could, as a magistrate, say to these young men and women ‘you’ve got an option – if you’re a good boy or girl, you’ll come out, but you must do a year in the Armed Forces’.”
Mr Drax admitted his proposals were unlikely to be accepted but highlighted the need to bolster the Army.
In Janaury, Downing Street was forced to rule out conscription after the head of the Army said Britain should train a “citizen army”.
General Sir Patrick Sanders said in a speech: “Ukraine brutally illustrates that regular armies start wars, citizen armies win them.”
It comes as the country is facing a crisis with growing numbers of people out of work.
