I posted previously about Labour’s plans for young people who were NEET.
https://education-economy-society.com/2024/03/08/labour-comes-after-the-neets/
Previously, the push to get ‘economically inactive’ young people into the labour force was inextricably linked to Labour’s ‘dash for growth’ agenda. Now, nine months into a Labour government, there’s a different context.
International uncertainties are making even Labour’s limited intentions of growing the economy increasingly far-fetched. As bond market borrowing costs remain precarious and with the government bludgeoned into a sharp increase in defence agenda; then unlike other European neighbours who’ve suddenly been able to use the magic money tree, Reeves isn’t going to budge on the self-imposed fiscal rules and has upped the ante.
Instead, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish a forecast which is expected to show that the £9.9bn in “fiscal headroom” has been wiped out, so Reeves is squaring up to announce cuts in public expenditure (austerity mark 2) in the forthcoming Spending Review (mini budget). According to some reports she’s pencilling in a £5 billion reduction to the welfare bill.
Labour committed itself to a potentially expensive, Youth Guarantee (to education or training) while in opposition, but in office this has itself become redundant. Despite identifying FE as a place for developing work skills, it’s now being reported that government is considering tapering the modest amount of funding it promised to colleges. Meanwhile ‘Skills England’ the body set up to improve employability options, is yet to become properly operational. So, without being able to offer any real incentives, Labour will be coming after the NEETs good and proper.
Education, Economy and Society 
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