Lord Tebbit 'could have been a hoodie' if his stint doing National Service hadn't knocked him into shape, he has said.

The Tory peer, who was known as the Chingford Skinhead during his time in politics, said serving the Armed Forces had given him an outlet for his energy and stopped him getting into trouble as a teenager.

Without a compulsory period in the military, the young find it difficult to channel aggression and energy in a positive way, explained the former Conservative chairman, who was a close ally of former prime minister Baroness Thatcher. Consequently, too many are driven to anti-social behaviour and crime - characterised by those who wear hooded tops.

He said: 'Growing up in inner London somewhere today, I would possibly have been a hoodie.

'You just have to get out and do something at that age. You have to lead people.

'One of the tragedies of today is the kids who ought to be leaders are being left to do destructive things instead - they feel they have to lead somewhere so they lead the gangs.

'It's the only leadership they can get,'  the 77-year-old told veterans at the RAF Association, Bognor, in West Sussex.

Between 1945 and 1963, every healthy man from 17 and 21 was expected to serve in the Forces for 18 months

Lord Tebbit, 77, grew up in Enfield, North London.Lord Tebbit also blamed Britain's education system for the teenage crime wave sweeping the country.

He said: 'We are failing them in the most dreadful way. We are creating terrific problems for society.

'The most academically gifted young people are not being stretched enough by state schools and those without many talents are just being cast adrift from society.   'http://tinyurl.com/5w3877

I can't help but think he's speaking the truth

Rather tiring to think about our younger generation, as too just what they want from life ?? -- They are bored?? So find them something, worthwhile to actually DO??
Train them to be positive in their outlook for 'their' Future and get their interests and Attitude Changed ---- Put Them Back Into The Community

Does Dying, for an unworthy cause, justify The end product??  I Think Not !! But today's training may well be capable of helping these youngsters??

Does dying for an unworthy cause mean defending your country Pheonix. Had we thought like that in 1939 we would have been ruled by the nazis, we would have lost the Falklands and NI.

Val, are you sure youngsters joining the army want to serve their country. In my opinion this is no longer valid - they are sent to some country far away. It's just a job and  - at least in Germany a job where you can earn a lot of money, because you get an extra for being stationed in a dangerous foreign country. Sometimes I think they don't realise how dangerous their job is.

There are many valid points, in your postings.
The war in 1945 was for the 'safety' of our country, by supporting Europe!!  The wars, currently in far off eastern places, cannot be placed on the same level!!
Many of 'our' forces, are dying, sometimes for the lack of the right equipment. Many are Disilusioned !!
Teri, I think you have a valid point, as it is one way of doing something benificial and getting paid??  I shter any other choice for them ??

Teri, I believe it's called "cameradie" or comrades in arms. Not many appear to want to go into the forces today ?? possibly because of the external threats ??
Some of those already in!! are buying themselves out because of 'Disillusionedment' ?? Perhaps so much has changed since my time in the 40s.??

True Phoenix, would you like to die for some "unknown" people like the Iraqi or the Afghans? On German TV they said yesterday that on the whole little has changed in Afghanistan.
In the 40s you were defending your country and that was quite different.