Rishi Sunak says daughters are 'excited' about his national service plans

Rishi Sunak said his daughters were more excited about his pledge to bring in national service for young people than they were about his previous school maths plans.

“I think my daughters are definitely more excited than they were when I announced maths to 18,” the Prime Minister said during a campaign trip to Churchill China, a ceramics company in Stoke-on-Trent.

“Look, I’m a dad, right. And so I do this first and foremost as a dad, knowing full well that if I’m successful, my daughters will do it.

“And I’m really excited for them to do it. And lots of people do volunteering without this but I think doing it in this way, something that the whole country, a whole generation does together will be transformative.

“It will be good for them and good for everyone that they spend time with as a result. So I’m really, really excited for them to have the opportunity to do it.”

The Prime Minister insisted he has not given up on winning young people’s votes after he was quizzed about the contrast between his election offer for pensioners and youngsters.

As well as national service for teenagers, state pensioners are being offered a tax break, with an increase in their income tax personal allowance which would give them a cut worth around £95 in 2025-26, rising to £275 in 2029-30.

The move is seen as a bid to shore up Tory support from older voters who did not benefit from cuts to national insurance at the budget and autumn statement.

Mr Sunak defended his plans, telling reporters: “I think providing young people – regardless of their background, where they’re from, where they live – with the opportunities that national service will provide, the skills that it will give them later in life, will be hugely positive for them.

“And at the same time, foster a culture of service in our country that will make our societies more cohesive, and strengthen our security and resilience as a country.”