\n<\/p>\n
Pat McFadden<\/strong> admitted that \u201cyoung people haven\u2019t had the attention that they deserve\u201d after Laura Kuenssberg said many of them are struggling to pay rent and get jobs while being saddled with debt from university. The Greens and Reform are doing well among under 30s, according to recent polling, and that is something that will be causing concern among Labour ministers, who have traditionally relied on young voters as a core voting constituency.<\/p>\n McFadden said:<\/p>\n Look, I think young people haven\u2019t had the attention that they deserve. I think there is something in that.<\/em><\/p>\n That\u2019s why I think this youth guarantee package is so important, because these numbers have been up for years and no one did anything about it.<\/em><\/p>\n I also think on the housing front, it\u2019s become more difficult. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve got such an ambitious target to build more houses. A lot of young people are renting; we legislated to improve renters rights.<\/em><\/p>\n So I think across the piece, young people in this country need a better deal. I think they need a sense that the government that\u2019s in office believes in them, backs them, and we want to do that, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re bringing forward this package.<\/em><\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.25 EST<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/span>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The former head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), Lady Kishwer Falkner<\/strong>, said she is confused why Nigel Farage cannot \u201cjust offer an unreserved apology for any distress caused\u201d over his alleged behaviour as a schoolboy at Dulwich College, adding \u201cthat would be the most genuine thing to say if he\u2019s genuinely not a racist\u201d.<\/p>\n She told Sky News\u2019s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme earlier this morning:<\/p>\n Look, this is a situation I feel actually quite confused and disturbed by. You have a situation where, when you read these allegations in terms of what is attributed to him, it looks utterly ghastly on paper.<\/em><\/p>\n And then you try and contextualise it, and you think, \u2018this is perhaps 50 years ago, you know, young people say all sorts of things at school. When you\u2019re teenagers, you say and do all sorts of things\u2019\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n But the one thing that slightly confuses me about him, and I hear his contextualisation of it all. Why can\u2019t he just offer an unreserved apology for any distress caused?<\/em><\/p>\n I just don\u2019t get it. It seems to me that that would be the most genuine thing to say if he\u2019s genuinely not a racist.<\/em><\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n You can read about Nigel Farage\u2019s shifting answers on the racism allegations at Dulwich College in this timeline put together by my colleagues Henry Dyer <\/strong><\/em>and <\/em>Daniel Boffey:<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Rounding up his interview, Trevor Phillips asked Helen Whately<\/strong> about the Guardian\u2019s investigation into Nigel Farage\u2019s alleged racist and antisemitic behaviour as a teenager towards fellow Dulwich college pupils. She suggested that the Reform leader appears not to be giving \u201cstraight answers\u201d when asked about his past behaviour, and ruled out any pact with Farage\u2019s party at the next general election.<\/p>\n \u201cHe needs to give people a straight answer,\u201d Whately said.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Helen Whately<\/strong> said that the main reason why young people are out of work and training is because they are \u201cmoving on to sickness benefits\u201d.<\/p>\n She told Sky News:<\/p>\n The number one reason why people, young people, are becoming Neet \u2013 not in employment, education or training \u2013 is because they\u2019re moving on to sickness benefits. <\/em><\/p>\n Yet we just saw a few months ago where Labour was attempting to make some reforms to this problem (people going on to sickness benefits). They u-turned, they abandoned their reforms. <\/em><\/p>\n They have no plans for the foreseeable future to do anything about this fact that you can have a higher income on benefits than in work.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>Helen Whately says today\u2019s DWP proposals are a \u201cclassic Labour approach\u201d to the issue of youth unemployment.<\/span> Photograph: Adam Vaughan\/EPAShare<\/p>\n The shadow work and pensions secretary, Helen Whately<\/strong>, said Labour\u2019s youth jobs and training plan is the \u201cwrong answer\u201d and said employers are put off from hiring young people because of the government\u2019s taxes on their businesses.<\/p>\n Speaking to Sky News\u2019 Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Whately, who accused Labour of \u201cdestroying\u201d the incentives to work, said:<\/p>\n What we\u2019ve seen today announced by the government is funding the best part of \u00a31bn on work placements and government created jobs for young people. That sounds all very well.<\/em><\/p>\n But the fact is \u2026 just two weeks ago, we had a budget from the chancellor, which is expected to destroy 200,000 jobs.<\/em><\/p>\n A year ago, we had a budget from Labour which was destroying 150,000 jobs, and we know that the jobs are being particularly hit by Labour\u2019s policies \u2013 like the jobs tax, that national insurance rise \u2013 are jobs for young people. For instance, jobs in hospitality \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n So the problem we have here is a government whose policies are destroying jobs, destroying opportunities for young people, now saying they\u2019re going to spend taxpayers\u2019 money on creating work placements. It\u2019s just simply the wrong answer.<\/em><\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.10 EST<\/p>\n Pat McFadden<\/strong> admitted that \u201cyoung people haven\u2019t had the attention that they deserve\u201d after Laura Kuenssberg said many of them are struggling to pay rent and get jobs while being saddled with debt from university. The Greens and Reform are doing well among under 30s, according to recent polling, and that is something that will be causing concern among Labour ministers, who have traditionally relied on young voters as a core voting constituency.<\/p>\n McFadden said:<\/p>\n Look, I think young people haven\u2019t had the attention that they deserve. I think there is something in that.<\/em><\/p>\n That\u2019s why I think this youth guarantee package is so important, because these numbers have been up for years and no one did anything about it.<\/em><\/p>\n I also think on the housing front, it\u2019s become more difficult. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve got such an ambitious target to build more houses. A lot of young people are renting; we legislated to improve renters rights.<\/em><\/p>\n So I think across the piece, young people in this country need a better deal. I think they need a sense that the government that\u2019s in office believes in them, backs them, and we want to do that, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re bringing forward this package.<\/em><\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.25 EST<\/p>\n Speaking to the BBC\u2019s Laura Kuenssberg <\/strong>about the new youth work plan, Pat McFadden<\/strong> said there is \u201cno reason\u201d why employers would not sign up to offer training to unemployed 16-24-year-olds because the government will pay for at least 25 hours\u2019 work for the young person at minimum wage.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Pat McFadden has defended the chancellor\u2019s decision to scrap the two-child benefit cap at last week\u2019s budget, which is estimated to cost \u00a33bn a year by 2029-30.<\/p>\n The scrapping of the cap, which came amid intense pressure from Labour backbenchers, was welcomed by campaigners and charities who argue it is the most cost-effective way to cut child poverty.<\/p>\n The two-child limit prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children.<\/p>\n Asked about why the government changed its mind on scrapping the cap now (Labour suspended seven of its own MPs for voting to scrap the cap last year), McFadden told Sky News:<\/p>\n The manifesto that we fought the election on said that we would reduce child poverty. There are a number of ways to do that. We set up a taskforce immediately after the election that worked through all this.<\/em><\/p>\n The second thing I was about to say is we did have to identify how you pay for that. And we\u2019ve done that in several ways. <\/em><\/p>\n We are making savings from cracking down on fraud and error in the benefits system that have been scored by the OBR, and the chancellor announced an extra taxation provision on online gambling, too. <\/em><\/p>\n I do believe that when you make a spending commitment, you\u2019ve got to say \u2018how are you going to pay for it?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n So I understand the motivations of people who said we should have done this earlier; they wanted it done. But it\u2019s important if you\u2019re going to run a responsible government to say how things are paid for.<\/em><\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Pat McFadden<\/strong> said youth unemployment should be a \u201cLabour cause\u201d as the figures are worse in more deprived areas. \u201cIt is an issue not just of unemployment but of inequality too,\u2019 he told Sky News. He said the issue is an \u201cinternational\u201d one, adding that the rise in Neets is in part to \u201cdeep seated Labour market issues\u201d and \u201cpost Covid effects\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I want to see \u2026 is young people in the habit of getting up in the morning, doing the right thing, going to work. That experience of that obligation but also the sense of pride and purpose that comes with having a job.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Pat McFadden has unveiled plans this morning to increase the number of young people in work.<\/span> Photograph: Thomas Krych\/ZUMA Press Wire\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n The Department for Work and Pensions said in a press release today that almost one million young people will benefit from training or work as a result of a major \u00a3820m funding package aimed to get 16-24-year-olds off universal credit and into work.<\/p>\n The government said it will fund 350,000 training and work experience placements, in sectors including construction, health and social care and hospitality, and will guarantee 55,000 jobs in areas it says are most in need in Britain.<\/p>\n These areas are:<\/p>\n There have been warnings that the government\u2019s plans to get young people into work are too blunt of an instrument and there is a lack of adult education funding to help train people in emerging technologies.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.16 EST<\/p>\n The work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden<\/strong>, is being asked by Sky News\u2019 Trevor Phillips about the government\u2019s plans to offer young people an apprenticeship, training, education, or help to find a job.<\/p>\n Up to one million young people on universal credit are expected to benefit from learning or employment opportunities under the scheme. Youth unemployment is high, owing in part to the continued impact of Covid and the cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n Phillips asks McFadden if benefits under universal credit will be withdrawn if people don\u2019t take up the offer under the scheme.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it could be. We see this as both an offer and an obligation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He adds that he has been \u201cstruck\u201d by slides within the DWP showing that the number of young people (about one million) not in education, employment or training (Neet) has been rising for the \u201clast four years or so\u201d. \u201cThat is when it really started to rise\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.10 EST<\/p>\n Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. Keir Starmer<\/strong> has said the \u201chugely talented\u201d former deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner<\/strong>, will return to his cabinet.<\/p>\n Rayner stood down from the government in September after the prime minister\u2019s ethics adviser found she had breached the ministerial code over her underpayment of stamp duty on her \u00a3800,000 seaside flat.<\/p>\n Rayner had been seen as a frontrunner to succeed Starmer, who is hugely unpopular with the public, until the shock resignation.<\/p>\n <\/span>Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner were close political allies. <\/span> Photograph: Temilade Adelaja\/Reuters<\/p>\n Starmer said in an interview with The Observer on Sunday that Rayner, who had her first baby at 16 and grew up on one of Stockport\u2019s poorest council estates, is the best example of social mobility \u201cthis country has ever seen\u201d.<\/p>\n Asked if he misses her, the prime minister told journalist Rachel Sylvester: \u201cYes, of course I do. I was really sad that we lost her. As I said to her at the time, she\u2019s going to be a major voice in the Labour movement.\u201d<\/p>\n Pressed as to whether she will be back in the cabinet, Starmer said: \u201cYes. She\u2019s hugely talented.\u201d Stick with us as we give you the latest on this story and the other major political developments in the UK.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Minister admits that young people ‘haven’t had the attention they deserve’ Pat McFadden admitted that \u201cyoung people haven\u2019t had the attention that they deserve\u201d after Laura Kuenssberg said many of them are struggling to pay rent and get jobs while being saddled with debt from university. The Greens and Reform are doing well among under<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[4538,1685,1865,1248,116,9647,132,1354,4584,364,124,514,801],"class_list":{"0":"post-36268","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics","8":"tag-admits","9":"tag-announced","10":"tag-attention","11":"tag-deserve","12":"tag-funding","13":"tag-havent","14":"tag-live","15":"tag-minister","16":"tag-package","17":"tag-people","18":"tag-politics","19":"tag-work","20":"tag-young"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Farage needs to give the public a ‘straight answer’ to racism allegations, shadow minister says<\/h2>\n
Main reason young people are out of work is because they are ‘moving on to sickness benefits’, shadow minister says<\/h2>\n
Minister admits that young people ‘haven’t had the attention they deserve’<\/h2>\n
Benefits could be cut if youth job and training offer rejected, minister says<\/h2>\n
Keir Starmer says former deputy PM Angela Rayner will return to cabinet<\/h2>\n