LibDems launch plans to tackle youth unemployment (Fylde Liberal Democrats)

Fylde Liberal Democrats <info@fyldelibdems.org.uk>

LibDems launch plans to tackle youth unemployment

September 10, 2009 4:01 PM

We cannot afford to let millions of young people get trapped on the dole. That's why today I've launched a new plan to tackle youth unemployment.

Did you know that nearly a fifth of 18 to 24-year-olds are currently unemployed? Without action now, more than 1.2 million young people could be unemployed by the end of 2011.

The Conservatives failed a whole generation in the wake of the last recession. A whole generation became trapped in a culture of dependency. Labour look set to repeat the same mistakes now. We can't let that happen.

Today I'm launching new policy that would take almost 900,000 unemployed young people off the streets.

Under our plans more than 800,000 young people will be given a leg-up into industry via paid internships. An extra 60,000 places will be funding in universities and colleges, opening up further and higher education.

We will slash the time Labour forces young people to wait for support, fully fund apprenticeships to put British industry back on track and give more youngsters places on essential back-to-work schemes.

Our proposals would cost £1.1 billion and would be paid for by scrapping the VAT cut immediately.

For more details see my website: NickClegg.com/LostGeneration

Only the Liberal Democrats will nurture the talent of young people and ensure no one is left behind.