Young people challenge politicians over youth unemployment at Westminster meeting

Young people from across the country met with politicians at Westminster to tell their story of how being out of work has affected them.

At the meeting, which was organized by the University and College Union (UCU), the union for education professionals, young people challenged politicians on how they would tackle youth unemployment and change their lives for the better if they win the next General Election.

The young people gave a personal account of how they were affected by being without qualifications or jobs at the meeting and challenged Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs over the lack of change they see in their local communities.

Stephen Williams MP jokingly told 18-year-old Shamayal Yakoob he was "the voter from hell" because he persistently challenged him to prove he was different from a do-nothing politician.

Shamayal Yakoob, a teenager from Birmingham attended the meeting. Speaking to Sky News he said: "If you don't have education what are you going to do? Be home watching TV or out in the streets?".

He spends his time at a youth centre after he failed to get a place at sixth form college. Shamayal told the meeting that young people should be asked where money should be spent, not shut out of the decision-making process.

Conservative John Hayes pledged more money for apprenticeships, using funding currently spent on the Government's Train To Gain scheme.

"These aren't people who have failed at school, they are people have been failed," he said.
Mr Williams talked about Lib Dem policies for extra funding to follow children on free school meals and changes to the way university courses are funded.

Labour MP Iain Wright was also expected to take questions but sent his apologies.
Secretary general Sally Hunt said it was about "making sure young people, people who matter, really get the chance to question politicians face to face".

She added: "We hope that the people who are saying they want to form the Government really understand what needs to be done."

According to data published by the UCU on Tuesday (24 February 2010) a quarter of young people in some areas of the country do not have a single qualification. Those with no qualifications are four times more likely to be unemployed than students with an A level according to the data.

Fri, 26/02/2010 - 15:31