This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/30/bleak-young-people-hope-tory-ehrc

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
There’s more bleak news for young people – but there is also a ray of hope There’s more bleak news for young people – but there is also a ray of hope
(35 minutes later)
The government-led attack on young people is an act of vandalism on the future of the country. The Tories don’t seem to care very much, knowing that young people are less likely to vote and, if they do, unlikely to plump for them: back in May, David Cameron’s party only had a lead among those aged over 44.The government-led attack on young people is an act of vandalism on the future of the country. The Tories don’t seem to care very much, knowing that young people are less likely to vote and, if they do, unlikely to plump for them: back in May, David Cameron’s party only had a lead among those aged over 44.
Related: Britain's youth at risk of being 'lost generation', warns equality reportRelated: Britain's youth at risk of being 'lost generation', warns equality report
“Attack” might sound like hyperbole, but a new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggests not. Those aged under 34 experienced the worst slump in their living standards: the period in which a marked deterioration in their circumstances began coincides with the Tories’ time in government starting in 2010.“Attack” might sound like hyperbole, but a new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggests not. Those aged under 34 experienced the worst slump in their living standards: the period in which a marked deterioration in their circumstances began coincides with the Tories’ time in government starting in 2010.
The battery of attacks is well documented, but worth reiterating. The trebling of tuition fees saddled young people with debt that will sap their already flagging living standards for many years to come, and all because they aspired to education. The government is now scrapping grants for poorer students. The abolition of the education maintenance allowance represented the precision targeting of aspirational working-class youngsters.The battery of attacks is well documented, but worth reiterating. The trebling of tuition fees saddled young people with debt that will sap their already flagging living standards for many years to come, and all because they aspired to education. The government is now scrapping grants for poorer students. The abolition of the education maintenance allowance represented the precision targeting of aspirational working-class youngsters.
Home ownership among younger people is in a state of collapse. Social housing is desperately scarce, forcing them into the money-draining insecurity of the private rented sector. Unpaid internships are walls that have been built around the professions which only those with well-to-do parents are likely to climb. Youth services are often the first to be slashed by hammered local authorities. Hundreds of thousands of young people out of work, with life-changing consequences; those with work are all too often in precarious, low-skilled jobs, and that includes those who spent years accumulating debt at university. The Tories plan to strip away housing benefit from younger people, grievously undermining the independence of many; and young workers may even have their tax credits stripped away, perversely the side-effect of a failed clampdown on immigration. Home ownership among younger people is in a state of collapse. Social housing is desperately scarce, forcing them into the money-draining insecurity of the private rented sector. Unpaid internships are walls that have been built around the professions that only those with well-to-do parents are likely to climb. Youth services are often the first to be slashed by hammered local authorities. Hundreds of thousands of young people are out of work, with life-changing consequences; those with work are all too often in precarious, low-skilled jobs, and that includes those who spent years accumulating debt at university. The Tories plan to strip away housing benefit from younger people, grievously undermining the independence of many; and young workers may even have their tax credits stripped away, perversely the side-effect of a failed clampdown on immigration.
It is easy to detail the attacks on the prospects of young people. But here is my experience of speaking at schools, sixth forms and universities: young people are often all too aware of the battery of attacks they face, and the difficulties that loom over their futures. Many worry about it, and some are really quite angry about it. But all too often they lack hope. By “hope” I mean a few things. First, a lack of faith in politics as a meaningful vehicle to transform their lives: the world of politics seems to have little relevance to their everyday fears and ambitions. Second, treating these problems as facts of life, to put in a box labelled “life sucks, oh well” – a lack of belief that anything can be done about it.It is easy to detail the attacks on the prospects of young people. But here is my experience of speaking at schools, sixth forms and universities: young people are often all too aware of the battery of attacks they face, and the difficulties that loom over their futures. Many worry about it, and some are really quite angry about it. But all too often they lack hope. By “hope” I mean a few things. First, a lack of faith in politics as a meaningful vehicle to transform their lives: the world of politics seems to have little relevance to their everyday fears and ambitions. Second, treating these problems as facts of life, to put in a box labelled “life sucks, oh well” – a lack of belief that anything can be done about it.
Younger people are among the key victims of the Tories’ onslaught against voter registration, and clearly the campaign to register voters must take that into account. But it will be difficult to register many younger people unless they can be persuaded that politics can transform the lives and futures of them and their friends. They desperately need an organised voice. Yes, there is the National Union of Students, but that is a movement that does not embrace all young people, and student politicking does not appeal to many of them (to say the least). A movement that can organise young people, give a voice to their insecurities and ambitions, rally against everything from cuts to housing benefit and tax credits to campaigning for secure skilled jobs: that is surely what is needed. It would need to be ambitious in its approach, not full of dull meetings discussing resolutions, but organising young people through everything from leisure and sports events to music and comedy.Younger people are among the key victims of the Tories’ onslaught against voter registration, and clearly the campaign to register voters must take that into account. But it will be difficult to register many younger people unless they can be persuaded that politics can transform the lives and futures of them and their friends. They desperately need an organised voice. Yes, there is the National Union of Students, but that is a movement that does not embrace all young people, and student politicking does not appeal to many of them (to say the least). A movement that can organise young people, give a voice to their insecurities and ambitions, rally against everything from cuts to housing benefit and tax credits to campaigning for secure skilled jobs: that is surely what is needed. It would need to be ambitious in its approach, not full of dull meetings discussing resolutions, but organising young people through everything from leisure and sports events to music and comedy.
It would be easy to end this with apocalyptic predictions of riots and unrest unless something is done: these are always risks when so many young people feel there is little future to risk. What is more likely, however, is the silent trashing of the futures and aspirations of many young people. That won’t make many headlines, but the damage will still be done. The Tories currently feel they have little to gain from championing the interests of young people. And so the powerful must be confronted with organised strength: a movement that forces the government to listen to young people, whether they like it or not.It would be easy to end this with apocalyptic predictions of riots and unrest unless something is done: these are always risks when so many young people feel there is little future to risk. What is more likely, however, is the silent trashing of the futures and aspirations of many young people. That won’t make many headlines, but the damage will still be done. The Tories currently feel they have little to gain from championing the interests of young people. And so the powerful must be confronted with organised strength: a movement that forces the government to listen to young people, whether they like it or not.