ENGLAND’S teenage footie stars will be able to get out of compulsory national service, a Cabinet minister has hinted.
Mums and dads will also not be prosecuted or fined if their 18 year-old kids dodge the draft, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said.
Labour had gone studs up on the Tory manifesto policy to bring in compulsory national service for all 18 year olds - warning it would stop footie wonderkids from playing for their country.
England legend Michael Owen was 18 when he scored his famous wonder goal against Argentina in the World Cup in France in 1998.
Speaking to The Sun’s Never Mind the Ballots Show, Mr Stride said there would be opt outs for a small number of 18 year-olds.
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You can watch The Sun's Never Mind the Ballots show here.
Mr Stride said: “We would have to recognise there are some circumstances where there would need to be some form of exemptions.”
Mr Stride said he would not be drawn on what groups would get a few pass, but asked if there would be an opt out for “footie heroes” he said: “Yes absolutely.”
Vulnerable teens could also be given an opt out, he said.
He added: “I think the general principle you have raised is absolutely right - that there will inevitably need to be some, probably quite narrow, exemptions.”
The Euros kick off in Germany next month, and England are favourites to take the title.
After days of confusion, he also clarified that parents will not be punished if their teenagers refuse to sign up.
“It will be mandatory in the same way attending school is mandatory", Mr Stride said.
"But in terms of the mandatory element of it, it won't be something that leads to people being arrested or fined or anything of that nature.”
Teens will be incentivised to do national service by being given a “big tick” when applying for jobs, he said.
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In an exclusive chat, he also slammed social media companies for wrecking the mental health of kids - and told them they need to “police” their sites better.
The invention of iPhones, selfies and apps like instagram have been “deeply problematic” for many young people, especially girls, he said.
Asked if this was contributing to the mental health crisis we are seeing in teenagers and young people, Mr Stride said: “I think that is almost undeniable.
"In 2007, the iPhone came out and this stuff started. By 2010 we had the reversed camera so you could photograph yourself. We had the growth of Instagram and Snapchat and all those different apps coming on board.
“That exploded. It changed the way childhood worked.
“There is a correlation, I believe, between mental health outcomes and the growth of these kinds of technologies.”
In a direct message to tech bosses, he urged them to “think of the impact that that is having on younger people, and make sure that they police what they're doing properly and responsibly”.
The cabinet minister also denied ever telling over-50s to get on “their deliveroo bike” and look for work to fill job vacancies.
Although he urged company bosses to look at giving a job to older Brits.
He told the show: “I don't think we should disparage jobs. And I've met people over 50 who have jobs that involve cycling around and are very happy with it.
“But no, I never said on your bike and I never said go and get a Deliveroo job…..”
Warning Brits that early retirement could leave them cash strapped in the golden years, he urged them to make sure “they've got enough fuel in the tank financially to get them through to their final days”.
In a wide-ranging interview, he also revealed he once nearly set a pub on fire while working in a hotel bar and cooking cheese toasties for the punters.
“I got the timing wrong and it started to catch fire”, he recalled.
“It set off an alarm and a fire engine. In fact two fire engines then appeared on the cathedral green…And I got fired.”
He added: “They said you’ve done a brilliant job in every other way.
But, you know, maybe toasting sandwiches wasn't my thing. ..I've not done it since.”
Earlier on Thursday, our daily Never Mind the Ballots Never Mind the Ballots Election Countdown show saw Nigel Farage admit he's open to a deal with Rishi Sunak to save the Tories from oblivion.
The Brexit stalwart said he had done the party many "favours" over the years - asking the PM: "What are they going to do back for me?"
As Reform eat into the Tories' vote, the challenger party's Honorary President challenged the Conservatives saying: "Give me something back. We might have a conversation.”
And he revealed the real reason why he won’t stand in the General Election on our brand-new election show which you can watch EVERY weekday on thesun.co.uk or on The Sun's election YouTube channel here.
He told The Sun's Political Editor Harry Cole the Tories have already tried to lure him away, hinting they had even offered him a peerage.
Farage dismissed the offer as "rubbish" - but said he and the Tories "might have a conversation".
Also on Never Mind the Ballots' Daily Election Special:
- Nigel Farage admitted he's open to a deal with Rishi Sunak to save the Tories from oblivion
- Farage said he wants to hijack Tory Party like Trump in the US
- Ex-UKIP leader says he was 'proved right over small boats'
- Former Tory leader says Chinese spies are stalking him
He said: "I got rid of Mrs May with the Brexit Party. I stood aside for Boris to help him win a massive majority.
"What are they going to do back for me?"
Harry said: "Peerage?"
But Farage said: “No, no I’ve turned all that rubbish down in the past.
"I'm not asking them for anything other than - I've done them some huge favours over the years as a party.
"Give me something back. We might have a conversation."
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat slapped down Farage's suggestion of a deal, telling BBC's Politics Live: “The only people we should be doing a deal with is the British people and the deal we are making is to make an offer for how to govern this country better for the next five years and I think Rishi is absolutely right to be focusing on that.”
Farage also revealed he decided not to run because "the other side will cheat".
He said: "I had a plan, actually. I'll let you in on a secret. I was going to launch tomorrow - I had a venue booked, I had it all ready to go.
"But the problem is, you can't win in a constituency - or it's very difficult to win - without data.
"It's even harder to win when you're Nigel Farage, because the other side will cheat.
"There'll be third party outside influencers, and I needed a really good run at this. And six weeks wasn't enough.
"I thought, well, rather than being stuck for six weeks in a constituency, why not travel around the country.
"Not just supporting Reform candidates, but try and get a proper debate going."
