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David Cameron suggests cutting benefits for under-25s | David Cameron suggests cutting benefits for under-25s |
(35 minutes later) | |
David Cameron has suggested benefits paid to people under the age of 25 could be cut in an effort to reduce long-term worklessness. | David Cameron has suggested benefits paid to people under the age of 25 could be cut in an effort to reduce long-term worklessness. |
In his speech to the Conservative conference, the prime minister promised to "nag and push and guide" young people away from a life on the dole. | In his speech to the Conservative conference, the prime minister promised to "nag and push and guide" young people away from a life on the dole. |
It was later confirmed that the government is reviewing policies for 16 to 25-year-olds. | It was later confirmed that the government is reviewing policies for 16 to 25-year-olds. |
But Labour accused the Conservatives of a "desperate" lack of ideas. | But Labour accused the Conservatives of a "desperate" lack of ideas. |
In his speech, Mr Cameron promised to create a "land of opportunity" by boosting business and reducing reliance on benefits. | |
He also vowed to improve the education system and told party activists that there still much work to do to fix the economic "mess" left by Labour. | |
'Bold action' | |
The latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions showed 1.09 million people between the ages of 16 and 24 were not in work, education or training. | The latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions showed 1.09 million people between the ages of 16 and 24 were not in work, education or training. |
The problem has proved stubbornly hard to tackle across Europe, with rates of youth unemployment soaring above 50% in Spain. | The problem has proved stubbornly hard to tackle across Europe, with rates of youth unemployment soaring above 50% in Spain. |
Mr Cameron argued that action was needed in the UK, saying: "There are still over a million young people not in education, employment, or training. | |
"Today it is still possible to leave school, sign on, find a flat, start claiming housing benefit and opt for a life on benefits. It's time for bold action here." | "Today it is still possible to leave school, sign on, find a flat, start claiming housing benefit and opt for a life on benefits. It's time for bold action here." |
He promised the Conservatives would consider, as they write their manifesto for the 2015 general election, whether "that option should really exist at all". | He promised the Conservatives would consider, as they write their manifesto for the 2015 general election, whether "that option should really exist at all". |
A Conservative source has told the BBC the manifesto will definitely contain a commitment to end the automatic entitlement to housing benefit for the under-25s, as suggested previously by Mr Cameron. | A Conservative source has told the BBC the manifesto will definitely contain a commitment to end the automatic entitlement to housing benefit for the under-25s, as suggested previously by Mr Cameron. |
In his speech, the prime minister criticised reliance on benefits, saying: "Instead we should give young people a clear, positive choice: Go to school. Go to college. Do an apprenticeship. Get a job. | In his speech, the prime minister criticised reliance on benefits, saying: "Instead we should give young people a clear, positive choice: Go to school. Go to college. Do an apprenticeship. Get a job. |
"But just choose the dole? We've got to offer them something better than that." | "But just choose the dole? We've got to offer them something better than that." |
He added: "And let no one paint ideas like this as callous. Think about it: with your children, would you dream of just leaving them to their own devices, not getting a job, not training, nothing? | He added: "And let no one paint ideas like this as callous. Think about it: with your children, would you dream of just leaving them to their own devices, not getting a job, not training, nothing? |
"No - you'd nag and push and guide and do anything to get them on their way… and so must we. So this is what we want to see: everyone under 25 - earning or learning." | "No - you'd nag and push and guide and do anything to get them on their way… and so must we. So this is what we want to see: everyone under 25 - earning or learning." |
'Dunt' | |
During the week-long conference in Manchester, the Conservatives have announced plans to make the long-term unemployed undertake work placements if they want to continue receiving benefits. | During the week-long conference in Manchester, the Conservatives have announced plans to make the long-term unemployed undertake work placements if they want to continue receiving benefits. |
Mr Cameron did not set out any specific changes regarding under-25s during his 50-minute speech, but Education Secretary Michael Gove offered more detail when questioned on BBC Radio 4's The World at One. | Mr Cameron did not set out any specific changes regarding under-25s during his 50-minute speech, but Education Secretary Michael Gove offered more detail when questioned on BBC Radio 4's The World at One. |
He announced that Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood was already reviewing the policies in place. He is expected to report his findings by the end of the year. | He announced that Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood was already reviewing the policies in place. He is expected to report his findings by the end of the year. |
Mr Gove said: "It is always going to be the case that there are some people for whom you need not so much a nudge as a dunt (a firm blow or stroke) towards the workplace. | Mr Gove said: "It is always going to be the case that there are some people for whom you need not so much a nudge as a dunt (a firm blow or stroke) towards the workplace. |
"It's important also that we all recognise that welfare is there explicitly to help those people through hard times that it shouldn't become habituated." | "It's important also that we all recognise that welfare is there explicitly to help those people through hard times that it shouldn't become habituated." |
He said he would not pre-empt the policy review, adding: "I don't think any of us would want to take away any form of necessary support to young or old vulnerable people." | He said he would not pre-empt the policy review, adding: "I don't think any of us would want to take away any form of necessary support to young or old vulnerable people." |
However, unions warned that any cut in benefits would hurt the worst-off. | However, unions warned that any cut in benefits would hurt the worst-off. |
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Given the government's awful track record of helping young people find jobs, the prime minister's threat to ban the dole for under-25s will simply push hundreds of thousands of young people, including those with young families, even deeper into poverty. | TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Given the government's awful track record of helping young people find jobs, the prime minister's threat to ban the dole for under-25s will simply push hundreds of thousands of young people, including those with young families, even deeper into poverty. |
"Young people suffered most in the recession. Today the prime minister has pledged that they will suffer most during the recovery too." | "Young people suffered most in the recession. Today the prime minister has pledged that they will suffer most during the recovery too." |
The general secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, said: "What we need is a real plan at local and national level which provides sustainable and secure employment opportunities for young people and access to education which is useful and mind-broadening. | The general secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, said: "What we need is a real plan at local and national level which provides sustainable and secure employment opportunities for young people and access to education which is useful and mind-broadening. |
"Cheap headlines about lazy youngsters or cutting their benefits are no substitute for a strategy which is on the side of young people and allows them to realise their potential." | "Cheap headlines about lazy youngsters or cutting their benefits are no substitute for a strategy which is on the side of young people and allows them to realise their potential." |
A Labour spokesperson said: "This is an empty and a desperate attempt to distract from the fact that there was absolutely nothing in David Cameron's speech to deal with the cost-of-living crisis facing families. | A Labour spokesperson said: "This is an empty and a desperate attempt to distract from the fact that there was absolutely nothing in David Cameron's speech to deal with the cost-of-living crisis facing families. |
"If the Conservatives really wanted to get young people off benefits, they'd be backing Labour's youth jobs guarantee, giving young people who've been out of work for over a year a job they must take or lose benefits." | "If the Conservatives really wanted to get young people off benefits, they'd be backing Labour's youth jobs guarantee, giving young people who've been out of work for over a year a job they must take or lose benefits." |