FORMER MP Lord Norman Tebbit has confessed that he "could have been a hoodie."
The well-known politician, known by opponents as the ‘Chingford Skinhead’, said national service provided a constructive channel for his youthful energy.
He said without such a period in the armed forces, young people currently lack a positive role into which they could put their efforts, leading some into anti-social behaviour.
He told a meeting of Bognor Regis’ RAFA Club: "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.”
Lord Tebbit was MP for Chingford from 1974 to 1992.
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