Burnham pledges welfare reforms to address young people crisis

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 10:07 · Archive

Andy Burnham has pledged 'big changes' to the welfare system to tackle the crisis of young people not in education, employment or training.

Andy Burnham has pledged 'big changes' to the welfare system to address what he describes as an 'economic catastrophe' of over a million young people not in education, employment or training. The prime minister's comments come as ministers look to rein in the spiralling welfare bill through potential reforms to benefit conditions.

Burnham's statement focuses on young people who leave school and enter the benefits system. His pledge coincides with the publication of a report from Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England, which examines inequalities in young people's treatment across the country. De Souza has studied more than 160 datasets to examine how experiences vary across England, finding the variation is 'staggering'.

The government is awaiting Alan Milburn's long-awaited welfare review, due next month, which is expected to inform the direction of welfare reforms. Ministers are considering whether tougher benefit conditions will form part of the government's approach to addressing the issue.

How it is being reported

• Burnham pledges ‘big changes’ to the way the welfare system works to tackle Neets crisis – UK politics livePrime minister’s comments come as children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza highlights ‘staggering’ inequalities in young people’s treatment across UK Good morning. Children and young people are at the top of the agenda today, with the publication of a hard-hitting report from Dame Rachel de Souza , the children’s commissioner for England, and a Times article by Andy Burnham . They are focusing on slightly different cohorts – Burnham is writing about young people who leave school and enter the benefits system, while the de Souza reports covers the experiences of young children in multiple…The Guardian · 19 Oct, 09:34
• Where’s Burnham really on welfare reform?Having more than a million young people not in education, employment or training is an “economic catastrophe” according to the prime minister. So, what will the government do about it? With Alan Milburn’s long-awaited review due next month, is Andy Burnham laying the groundwork for tougher benefit conditions in the budget – as ministers look […]Politico Europe · 19 Oct, 08:12

In this story: Andy Burnham · Alan Milburn · Dame Rachel de Souza · England

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