Marching orders

I am in total agreement with France’s President Macron in introducing National Service for young people in France, although it is a slightly watered down version of what he originally suggested.

I am in favour of bringing back National Service to Britain. It would give young people a sense of discipline, which is lacking in schools and families, with the nanny state approach to corporal punishment.

It would give them a training that could give them transferable skills to hopefully gain employment. It would give them grounding and self respect. It would be particularly helpful for those who are living in families where generations have lived off benefits and never contributed to society through paid employment.

It might also begin to eradicate the horrendous gang culture and knife crime we have seen get steadily worse as that comes from a search for identity which can be instilled in young people by a sense of belonging and purpose.

GORDON KENNEDY Simpson Square, Perth