Sunak forgets Covid kids are threatened by dark clouds of war

There are moments, admittedly, when the idea of National Service for my teenage son fleetingly seems like a good idea.

- NIGEL WISKAR

When he wolfs an entire packet of Jaffa Cakes without offering me one or I find yet another abandoned empty cereal bowl by the side of the sofa, for example.

And the thought of my lad brandishing a rifle when he can't even handle a sweeping brush fills me more with laughter than horror.

But there is a far deeper and scarier side to Rishi Sunak's latest desperate attempt to capture the fuddy-duddy vote.

This came from nowhere and is aimed at those who probably believe every teenage boy should have a short back and sides and, ironically, there is no place for women in the military.

Stand back from the initial shock and there are elements of the plans that may, with proper long-term debate, be worth considering.