Real jobs needed for our young people

£12 billion off the welfare budget after the next election says George Osbourne.

Further proof if it was needed that the Tories will continue to attack the most vulnerable who are suffering a cost of living crisis even when in work and having to access services such as the ever-increasing food banks that are appearing in most of our cities.

One in eleven people in Britain fear they won’t be able to afford their rent or mortgage at the end of this month, according to new research from Shelter released. (03.01.14)

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The shocking findings of The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index has found that more than three quarters of a million young people believe they have nothing to live for, with jobless youngsters facing “devastating” symptoms of mental illness.

The research reveals that long-term unemployed young people are more than twice as likely as their peers to have been prescribed anti-depressants. One in three have contemplated suicide, while one in four have self-harmed.

I totally agree that pensioners should receive a living pension that reflects their life long contribution to this country but isn’t it time that benefits such as the winter fuel allowance, free prescriptions and free bus passes were not universal but set at a level that would realistic reflect need.

Further dramatic cuts to the safety net of welfare benefits can only make things worse for our young. Surely there is a better way. We must invest in real jobs for our young with a living wage, which would allow them to contribute to the community, and in turn this would reduce the welfare budget without further harming the most vulnerable.

This would also have a positive effect on the economy.

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Even Nick Clegg has found a conscience and is opposed to the cuts. The Tories are instrumental with their polices of making the rich richer and the poor and vulnerable worse off.

Most people do not like taking benefits but need them to survive.

Equality of opportunity should be a fundamental right in a democratic society and the government should be putting forward policies that will guarantee equality. Instead it is panicking with an election looming and appealing to the well off to try shore up a crumbling Tory vote.

More than a third of people who voted Conservative in the last general election say they would not vote for the party in the next election, according to a poll carried out by Lord Ashcroft, former Tory Deputy Chairman.

For the sake of our public services, our young, and the hardworking people struggling with a cost of living crisis, let’s hope so.

CATHERINE PINDER

Muffit Lane

Gomersal

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