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Reason Magazine

Checking in with Britain's Conservative Party

David Weigel | September 6, 2007, 8:56am

What's the news in Margaret Thatcher's party?
Every 16-year-old will be expected to devote their summer to "patriotic" national service, under radical proposals being launched by David Cameron [leader of the Conservative Party] today.

School leavers would be encouraged to join six-week projects such as military training, working with the elderly and even travelling overseas to help in Third World countries.

It's encouragement, not requirement. But in the UK's center-right party libertarianism is giving way to Baden-Powell-ism.