When Ed Miliband was announced Labour leader in September, he spoke of the “next generation”.
He promised different attitudes, different ideas and a different way of doing politics to help ensure that the “next generation” does better than the generations that have gone before it.
Unfortunately, the chances and aspirations of the “next generation” are being recklessly dismantled by the brutal Tory-led government.
During last year’s general election campaign, the Liberal Democrats and their leader Nick Clegg convinced many that they were the voice for young people. Many fell for this rhetoric and now they are paying the ultimate price for Lib Dem betrayal.
Since walking into Number 10 last May, Cameron’s coalition government has already scrapped Educational Maintenance Allowance, removed the Future Jobs Fund and tripled tuition fees, to name just three.
Never have young people been targeted by a government and attacked in such a way.
Like Ed Miliband, I am supporter of Votes at 16, and repeating what he said at a people’s policy forum, you wonder if the coalition would have attacked the young in such a way, had they been given the vote.
16 year olds wouldn’t have wanted these drastic and radical changes being made against them.
The voting age in this country still stands at 18. Had 16 year olds been able to vote at last year’s election, I imagine most people of this age wouldn’t have voted for the cuts which will no doubt cause great harm to the prospects of the “next generation”.
Until they are given the vote, they will not have a legitimate voice against these unfair reforms.
Youngsters from low income families will now question whether they can stay on in education, let alone study at university. In addition to this, the axing of the Future Jobs Fund and a budget that doesn’t support growth or jobs will make school and university leavers wondering where they’re going to find employment in these difficult economic times.
If we carry on like this, the “next generation” will have become another “lost generation”, as the promise of better prospects and opportunities for the young will have been destroyed by this Tory-led government.
Let’s put an end to this madness and allow those being most hurt by the cuts to have a democratic say, so the “next generation” can prosper and do better than those that have gone before. It’s only fair.