[Anonymouse]

And has anyone thought to ask the Regulars what they think? I doubt it. It's all very well expecting National Service draftees to pursue peacetime roles (not that a lot of 'em aren't doing that already). But what happens if they're actually called up?!

Ask a 20-year squaddie if s/he wants an untrained civilian, a mere 18 years of age at that, to back them up in a firefight. You think the Armed Forces are down now? Regulars will quit en masse in self-preservation, and hang their pensions - you can't spend money if you're dead!

No, the Tories are doomed now. For a whole bunch of reasons, this will never fly.