What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Campaigners are ­calling to ban 16-year-olds joining the armed forces.

They will use tomorrow’s International Day Against The Use of Child Soldiers to highlight the issue with the Government.

Stats show more than 2,000 under-16s sign up each year, with 80 per cent going to the Army.

An early day motion ­tabled by Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts says: “Westminster must ­seriously consider its policy of recruiting 16-year-olds into the armed forces and recognise the deep ­emotional, physical and psychological damage this does to them.

(Image: Anadolu)

“Fewer than 20 countries in the world allow their armed forces to recruit 16- year-olds – including the likes of Iran and North Korea. We shouldn’t be part of this group.

“A government that ­believes it is morally ­acceptable to stop a 16-year-old from buying glue, yet is happy to teach them how to kill with a ­bayonet has clearly mislaid its moral compass.”

She said child recruits are more susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse and even committing suicide.

Stats show the UK is the only European country that recruits 16-year-olds into the armed forces with ­under 18s accounting for 22.3 per cent of all Army recruits at end of 2016.

The other countries where 16-year-olds can join the armed forces include – Mauritania, Pakistan, El Salvador, UAE, Zambia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Iran, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago and Papua New Guinea.