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Alan Milburn, a former Labour minister and author of a significant review on youth unemployment, has called for young people to be guaranteed a job, training, or employment support by law. His proposals, set to be released soon, include the idea that those who refuse to engage with such assistance may face the loss of their benefits. In an interview to be aired on Sunday, Milburn advocated for a fundamental reallocation of government funding—from benefits toward programs that actively help young people secure employment.
Milburn pointed out the stark imbalance in spending, noting that the government currently spends 25 times more on benefits for young people than on employment support, a ratio he believes should shift dramatically to two to one. Achieving this would necessitate cuts to benefit expenditures and a substantial increase in funding for training, education, and other supportive initiatives. He explained, “the pendulum’s swung far too far from the one to the other – £25 to one, and we can take everything to £2 to one,” adding that reducing benefit payouts is essential for this adjustment.
Highlighting the current financial landscape, Milburn detailed that the government allocates £22 billion annually to support young people who are economically inactive. He emphasized the need for this money to be invested differently. His proposals include removing the entitlement of under-25s to certain health benefits, such as the personal independence payment and the health component of Universal Credit. Central to his plan is an “opportunity guarantee,” legally obligating the government to ensure every young person has access to a pathway into employment. Milburn remarked, “It should be a guarantee for a young person. Because at the moment the only guarantee they’ve got is a very simple thing. To get a benefit. What sort of life is that?” The concept is modeled on similar legal responsibilities local councils have regarding homelessness and child care.
The government is anticipated to respond positively to Milburn’s recommendations, which will be fully published on Tuesday alongside a parliamentary statement and draft legislation expected early next year. The urgency of the proposals is underlined by the fact that nearly one million young people in the UK are classified as “NEET” (not in education, employment, or training), according to recent Office for National Statistics data.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham described Milburn’s upcoming report as a “watershed moment” but did not offer a full commitment to its implementation. Addressing concerns about the required initial investment, Burnham emphasized the need to “spend differently” rather than increase overall government spending. When pressed about embracing the whole report, he declined to give a “blanket assurance,” stating, “We will have to wait until the report is published. It’s a wide-ranging report, and obviously we’ll set out our response next week.” He added that the report represents a critical shift in the government’s approach to supporting young people entering the workforce.
Responses from political figures have varied. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has previously expressed skepticism toward employment schemes, suggesting they ultimately fail and that focusing heavily on them is unproductive. The Conservative Party, alongside Reform UK, has called for deep welfare cuts to reallocate funding toward defense. Reform’s economy spokesman, Robert Jenrick, criticized the pace of reform, stating, “This review is pointless unless we get action from Burnham straight away. It cannot be right that this continues for another 10 years before the youth benefits bill comes down.” The Liberal Democrats have proposed introducing a 100-hour work experience guarantee and providing a careers coach for every young person to better prepare them before they leave school. The Green Party cautioned against stigmatizing young and disabled people and urged the government to tackle “structural inequalities stacked against them.
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