GB Information presenter tells Labour minister: “You have created this drawback, have not you?”
Camilla Tominey grilled Darren Jones on youth unemployment (Picture: GB NEWS)
A Labour minister confronted brutal questions from Camilla Tominey over youth unemployment on GB Information this morning. The presenter grilled Darren Jones on why the variety of younger individuals out of labor has jumped from 14.2% to 16.2% below Labour.
She mentioned: “Why you suppose youth unemployment has gone up from 14.2% to 16.2% within the final 12 months. So it is nothing you’ll be able to blame on the Conservatives, that is on Labour’s watch, why has it occurred?
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The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister replied: “This has sadly been a long-term difficulty.
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“Once we got here into authorities one in eight younger individuals had been popping out of college or faculty and going dwelling with none work or coaching or schooling alternatives.
“That fails them due to course younger individuals wish to set themselves up for achievement in life and to have the ability to launch out of their mother and father’ dwelling and go on and construct their very own households.
“Nevertheless it’s additionally a failure for the financial system as a result of if we do not get each particular person in work fulfilling their potential, incomes these wages, paying their contribution in tax, we’re going to be poorer as a rustic.”
Ms Tominey then mentioned: “That is a proof of the issue. My query was why has youth unemployment gone as much as its highest degree in 11 years below a Labour authorities?”
Mr Jones replied: “Nicely that is why for instance my colleague Pat McFadden on the Division for Work and Pensions has launched a youth assure scheme working with employers to get assured work and coaching for younger individuals.
“That is why we have put a file amount of cash into apprenticeship programmes that are an important route into work…”
However the presenter interrupted: “Hold on a minute, dangle on. I simply want a solution to the query. Why has youth unemployment gone up because it has to succeed in an 11-year excessive below this Labour Authorities?”
Mr Jones mentioned: “Nicely I’ve talked in regards to the root causes of that and as I mentioned it is a structural drawback.”
‘You have created this drawback, have not you?!’@CamillaTominey asks Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones, if his celebration will take duty for rising youth unemployment which she says is a results of two budgets which have ‘clobbered employers’. pic.twitter.com/EsRl2R6akP
— GB Information (@GBNEWS) Might 24, 2026
Ms Tominey went on: “What’s occurred although? What’s modified? What’s modified is that two Labour budgets have clobbered employers is not it?
“What’s modified is you place up the minimal wage and as a substitute of paying individuals extra, hard-pressed companies have needed to let employees go and the employees that they let go of first are these on the underside rung of the ladder aged 18-24.
“So you’ve got created this drawback, have not you? I do know you inherited some type of legacy however to have a leap from 14.2% to 16.2% in only a 12 months, Labour and the Chancellor should take some duty for this youth unemployment determine mustn’t they?”
Mr Jones mentioned: “Look you are proper the nationwide minimal wage has elevated however we predict that is the proper factor to do particularly in a cost-of-living problem for younger individuals in our nation.
“However we’ve to be very cautious in regards to the assumptions we’re making right here so for instance, employers who make use of employees below 21 they do not pay employer nationwide insurance coverage contributions in any respect.
“So while I recognise that we’ve elevated the price of employers’ nationwide insurance coverage contributions in respect to the controversy of younger those that’s not related as a result of they do not pay it within the first place for below 21s so that is about structural challenges within the financial system and the way we work with employers and younger individuals to verify they’re getting the proper coaching and abilities alternatives and work expertise to launch their careers efficiently.”
It comes after new official figures confirmed the speed of unemployment amongst 16 to 24-year-olds jumped to 16.2% within the three months to March – the best degree since 2015.
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