So youth unemployment has hit the one million mark.
There was cartoon in Monday’s Times that perfectly summed up David Cameron’s position on the issue. It showed him trying to blame everyone and everything other than himself, unsurprisingly.
So if our prime minister isn’t going to do anything about it, Ed Miliband must.
Because of the rise in tuition fees next year, less school leavers will consider university as an option, and look for employment instead. However because of coalition policies, finding a job is a struggle.
Those who are in their final year at school or college looking for a job or an apprenticeship cannot be left to one side and forgotten.
If the ‘next generation’ are not helped, youth employment will continue to spiral out of control and we will end up with a ‘lost generation’.
A couple of months ago I said that Andy Burnham’s idea of a ‘UCAS style’ system for apprenticeships must be seriously looked at by the Labour party. With today’s gloomy statistics, I think the argument for this kind of reform is even greater.
In addition to their five point plan for growth, Ed Miliband and Ed Balls must push the government for this ‘UCAS style’ system.
Even Nick Clegg (everyone’s favourite Tory with a hint of yellow) has said the issue of youth unemployment cannot be ignored. It’s a shame Cameron doesn’t feel the same.
In difficult economic times we need new and bold ideas to tackle the problems we are facing. I think the ‘UCAS style’ system fits this description and Labour needs to push the idea on, to show that we are in touch with all kinds of young people, whatever their aspirations in life.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, this government is unfairly and savagely attacking young people. David Cameron is betraying an entire generation.
Trebling tuition fees, scrapping EMA and getting rid of the future jobs fund, this cannot go on. Labour must now stand up to the government and begin to set the agenda on how we tackle youth unemployment.
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Andrew Bettridge is a journalism student at Staffordshire university and secretary of Burton CLP
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Photo: Olli Wilkman