I recently visited Hyde High School to meet the students in the Politics Club where I fielded questions on housing, education, tax and even the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play rules. It was great to meet with such engaged and smart young people and to see their enthusiasm for improving their community and their country.
Young people were particularly hard hit by Covid-19, losing opportunities that had previously been taken for granted. From education to youth services the last Conservative Government cut funding and cut services and failed to develop a youth strategy. According to the Local Government Association, since 2010 they closed 750 youth centres and cut 4,500 youth work jobs.
The new Labour Government is determined to make sure that young people get a fair deal, which is why my colleague Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, announced this week, that our Youth Guarantee will give access to an apprenticeship, quality training and education opportunities or help to find a job to every 18-21-year-old in England.
This will include new partnerships with some of Britain’s most iconic cultural and sporting organisations who will offer work or learning opportunities to inspire and upskill the next generation. There will also be work on the benefit rules for young people to ensure that they are supported into work so that no young person is left behind.
One million young people not in work, education or training is simply not okay. The Youth Guarantee offers brilliant opportunities, and all young people must have the opportunity to take them up. This will not only help young people get on in life but also help the local economy so businesses can find the employees they need and have customers with enough money to buy their products.
Labour are determined that young people will be able to contribute to the policies that will impact their lives, which is why the Government will be setting up an advisory panel to put young people at the heart of decision making. It is ever more important that young people get involved in politics locally and nationally so that they can have a voice in the decisions that impact their lives.
I benefitted from many opportunities as a young person under the last Labour Government and I want the students of Hyde High School Politics Club, and all young people in our constituency and across the UK to be able to say the same of this Labour Government.