Burnham stops short of backing Milburn's youth unemployment plan

Summarised from 3 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 03:14 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham declined to commit to implementing Alan Milburn's youth unemployment review in full when it publishes next week.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described Alan Milburn's forthcoming report on youth unemployment as a 'watershed moment' but has stopped short of committing to implementing its recommendations in full.

Former Labour health secretary Mr Milburn's review, to be published next week, will examine how to address the number of so-called Neets – 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training – which topped a million earlier this year for the first time in more than a decade. He is expected to recommend that under-25s should no longer be able to claim the health element of universal credit (UC) or personal independence payments (Pip), and should instead receive a 'youth allowance' paid at the same level as the standard rate of universal credit.

When asked whether he would accept the politically sensitive report in full, Mr Burnham declined to provide a 'blanket assurance'. Speaking to reporters in Dublin, he said: 'We will have to wait until the report is published. It's a wide-ranging report, and obviously we'll set out our response next week.'

The Prime Minister characterised the report as an important moment for rethinking support for young people. He said: 'I think it's really important to see the report as quite a watershed moment in terms of how we think about supporting young people and supporting young people into work.'

Burnham also addressed concerns about funding, insisting that paying for the reforms would not require additional government spending but rather 'spending differently'. Some Labour MPs have previously voiced concerns over the extent of future support for young people, having pressured Sir Keir Starmer's government last year to water down proposed welfare cuts.

Burnham stops short of backing Milburn's youth unemployment plan — Image: Evening Standard

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How it is being reported

Burnham gives no ‘blanket assurance’ on accepting Neets recommendations in fullThe Prime Minister said the detail of Alan Milburn’s youth unemployment review would come out next week.Evening Standard · 13 Nov, 21:23
Burnham gives no ‘blanket assurance’ on accepting Neets recommendations in fullThe Prime Minister said the detail of Alan Milburn’s youth unemployment review would come out next week.Evening Standard · 13 Nov, 20:47
Burnham gives no ‘blanket assurance’ on accepting Neets recommendations in fullThe Prime Minister said the detail of Alan Milburn’s youth unemployment review would come out next week.Independent Business · 13 Nov, 20:47
Andy Burnham says long-awaited Neets report 'watershed moment' for jobless youngstersAndy Burnham said there will be big implications for the welfare state from Alan Milburn's review into the almost one million young people not in education, employment or workThe Mirror · 13 Nov, 17:02
Burnham gives no ‘blanket assurance’ on accepting Neets recommendations in fullThe Prime Minister said the detail of Alan Milburn’s youth unemployment review would come out next week.Independent Business · 13 Nov, 17:00
Burnham gives no ‘blanket assurance’ on accepting Neets recommendations in fullThe Prime Minister said the detail of Alan Milburn’s youth unemployment review would come out next week.Evening Standard · 13 Nov, 17:00

In this story: Andy Burnham · Alan Milburn · Keir Starmer · Labour

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