ABOUT 20 per cent of young adults in the constituencies of Cabinet ministers are on out-of-work benefits, damning figures show.
It soars to 26.2 per cent in Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock’s seat of Aberafan Maesteg.
The figure is also above one in four in Nottingham North and Kimberley, represented by Justice Secretary Alex Norris (25.2 per cent), and Houghton and South (25.4 per cent) where Women’s Minister is the MP.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said Labour has led Britain into a “youth emergency”. She added: “Their tax raids and red tape have destroyed jobs.
“Every day, the number of young people out of work grows — with taxpayers forced to foot the bill.
“We cannot allow a generation to grow up with no experience of work, consigned to a lifetime on .”
The Tory Party analysis lays bare the scale of the youth unemployment crisis.
The Conservatives are calling for an urgent cut to employer National Insurance to boost youth jobs and get people off welfare.
Work and Pensions Secretary has 1,782 people aged 20 to 24 signing on in his Wolverhampton South East seat — 24 per cent.
Chancellor has 1,022 in his backyard of Rawmarsh and Conisbrough (22.1 per cent).
About 16 per cent of those aged 16 to 24 are out of work, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Andy Burnham’s patch, Makerfield, has 840 youngsters on jobless benefits, the Tories say.
This is about 17 per cent — a jump since Labour took power in 2024.
In 40 constituencies (including Woking, Edinburgh West and Mid Bedfordshire) the number of 20 to 24-year-olds claiming is up over 20 per cent since Labour got to No10.
In South, 30.5 per cent of youngsters claim benefits. The Tories warn the Budget this month will again hike taxes on businesses instead of reforming welfare.
They said when their leader visited a beauty salon this week, the owner cried as she had to dip into her pension to keep young staff in a job.
The Government has appointed ex-Cabinet minister Alan Milburn to probe the issue of NEETs — young people not in education, or training.
Labour said: “The Tories have some brass neck.
“The number of young people not in work, education or training rocketed by around a quarter of a million in their fading years in office, and they did nothing about it.
“Labour is £2.5billion to get more young people into jobs or training.
“We’re working with businesses to extend work opportunities and we’re building a system that supports youths not just to find a job, but to build a better future.
“More reform will follow Alan Milburn’s review.”
Labour’s policies lost jobs
By Helen Whately, Shadow Work and
Pensions Secretary
WE used to be proud of our record of getting young people into work, but under Labour we have hurtled backwards.
Unemployment among 20 to 24-year-olds is now higher in London than in the whole of Bulgaria, the joint poorest country in the EU alongside Greece.
Look around Labour’s Cabinet table. One in five people aged 20 to 24 in their constituencies is on out-of-work benefits.
In Bridget Phillipson’s constituency, it’s one in four
She was Education Secretary. Her job was to make sure young people left school fit for work.
In Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s own backyard, one in six young people are claiming. That’s up nearly 10 per cent since Labour took control.
These young people wake up each day with nothing to do.
Labour’s Jobs Tax, their business rates raid and their Employment Rights Act have made it riskier to hire a young person.
We’re demanding action in this month’s Budget.
