Vive la France? Can Andy Burnham avoid young people protesting on the streets? | Politics Weekly 19 October 2026 at 11:49

Vive la France? Can Andy Burnham avoid young people protesting on the streets? | Politics Weekly

By: Presented by Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey , produced by Nada Smiljanic and Sam Gruet , music by Axel Kacoutié · the executive producer is Maz Ebtehaj

19 October 2026 at 11:49

As young people take to the streets across the world to protest over living standards, Andy Burnham is hoping the former health secretary Alan Milburn has the answers to prevent similar unrest in Britain.

The long-awaited Milburn review will recommend investing in jobs and apprenticeships for under-25s by taking money from the welfare budget. It sounds very Blairite, so how does it fit with the prime minister’s overall plans – and will Labour MPs like it?

No 10: Hegseth ‘wrong’ to say most non-US Nato soldiers didn’t fight in Afghanistan – UK politics live 19 October 2026 at 10:49

No 10: Hegseth ‘wrong’ to say most non-US Nato soldiers didn’t fight in Afghanistan – UK politics live

The Guardian

By: Andrew Sparrow

19 October 2026 at 10:49

Downing Street delivered a rare rebuke to a senior member of Donald Trump’s administration

Asked why the Lib Dems were opposed to a third runway at Heathrow when they professed to be in favour of growth, Cooper said she did not accept that a third runway would produce all the benefits its supporters claimed.

She explained:

On Heathrow, it is clear from looking at all of the economic analysis of airport growth over the last few years that many of the promises made by all sorts of different airport companies simply haven’t come to bear.

The promise of higher wage jobs hasn’t been substantiated. Often it’s lower paid jobs, and often not as many as they’ve claimed.

Cut benefits to fund work support for young people, says Neet review author Alan Milburn 18 October 2026 at 14:30

Cut benefits to fund work support for young people, says Neet review author Alan Milburn

The Guardian

By: Anna Bawden and Kiran Stacey

18 October 2026 at 14:30

Exclusive: Former health secretary says upfront investment in support is needed ‘if we are going to end the Neet crisis’

Ministers should cut welfare spending to fund more employment support if it wants to end the youth Neet crisis, the author of a government-led review has said.

Alan Milburn, the Tony Blair-era health secretary, told the Guardian he believed ministers should reduce benefits payments to help pay for more employment support, opening a potentially contentious debate within the Labour party over welfare cuts.

Plan to make firms pay more to train older workers than youth apprentices in England 17 October 2026 at 03:00

Plan to make firms pay more to train older workers than youth apprentices in England

The Guardian

By: Richard Partington Senior economics correspondent

17 October 2026 at 03:00

Exclusive: Ministers considering overhaul of apprenticeship funding scheme to tackle youth jobs crisis

Employers in England are to be forced to pay more to train an older worker than a youth apprentice under plans being drawn up by the government to tackle the youth jobs crisis.

The Guardian understands ministers plan to overhaul Labour’s apprenticeship funding scheme to increase the cost of training by 25% for a worker over the age of 25 in order to encourage businesses to train young people instead.

Neet rates higher in England’s smaller cities and towns than in biggest cities 16 October 2026 at 09:00

Neet rates higher in England’s smaller cities and towns than in biggest cities

The Guardian

By: Neha Gohil Midlands correspondent

16 October 2026 at 09:00

Initiatives to address youth employment crisis and offer training are being launched in towns such as Telford

Smaller cities and towns across England have higher rates of young people not in employment, education or training than the nine largest cities, analysis shows.

The Centre for Cities, an independent thinktank dedicated to improving the economies of the UK, used 2021 census data to work out the rates across 41 cities and towns in England.

Tories call for 5-year freeze on minimum wage to tackle youth unemployment 16 October 2026 at 02:00

Tories call for 5-year freeze on minimum wage to tackle youth unemployment

The Guardian

By: Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor

16 October 2026 at 02:00

Labour says idea is ‘tin-eared’ as report says fixing rate will cost low-paid workers almost £9,000 over five years

A shadow minister has called for the government to freeze the minimum wage for five years, a move that could cost low-paid workers almost £9,000.

The call came in a report from the Prosperity Institute thinktank, which carries an endorsement from Andrew Sharpe, the shadow business minister. Sharpe said in his endorsement that it was time to take action to address the low rate of young people in work.

UK hospitality sector to offer up to 100,000 jobs to young people out of work 14 October 2026 at 17:30

UK hospitality sector to offer up to 100,000 jobs to young people out of work

The Guardian

By: Alexandra Topping Political correspondent

14 October 2026 at 17:30

Restaurants and pubs such as Nando’s and Fuller’s will create placements for 18- to 24-year-olds under DWP-backed scheme

Bars, clubs and restaurants will offer up to 100,000 jobs to young people not in employment, education or training (Neet) over the next three years in an effort to give them a first step on the ladder into work.

The move comes before the publication of a report on Neets by the former health secretary Alan Milburn, who has warned that the number of young people not in work or education in the UK could rise to 1.25 million over the next five years unless ministers intervene.

Is Universal Basic Income the Answer to A.I.-Fueled Job Losses? 12 October 2026 at 13:40

Is Universal Basic Income the Answer to A.I.-Fueled Job Losses?

NYT: Technology

By: Eli Tan and Rachel Bujalski

12 October 2026 at 13:40

For more than a year, The New York Times followed recipients of universal basic income programs, which Elon Musk and other tech leaders have promoted as a solution to A.I.-fueled job losses.

Create new pre-apprenticeship scheme to close youth unemployment gap, says Milburn 10 October 2026 at 01:00

Create new pre-apprenticeship scheme to close youth unemployment gap, says Milburn

The Guardian

By: Richard Partington Senior economics correspondent

10 October 2026 at 01:00

Exclusive: Former minister’s review warns that dramatic action is needed over huge drop in youth apprenticeship starts

A national apprenticeship readiness scheme should be introduced in England to close the gap for young people between leaving school and starting work, the government is to be told.

Alan Milburn, who is leading a major review into Britain’s youth jobs crisis, will call for a new “national pre-apprenticeship route” to offer young people further education, training and work experience.

Plan to cut disability support will harm young people | Letters 7 October 2026 at 13:00

Plan to cut disability support will harm young people | Letters

The Guardian

By: Guardian Staff

7 October 2026 at 13:00

Anna Bird and Rick Burgess respond to the government’s proposal to axe the health element from universal credit that disabled people under 25 receive

Reports that the government is considering removing the universal credit health element for disabled people under 25 will be alarming for families (Key disability benefit for young people may be axed under major welfare changes, 1 October). For many, it raises serious concerns about how they will keep disabled young people supported and able to participate in everyday life.

At Contact, we hear from families worried about universal credit and its impact on disabled family members. Some receiving the health element are studying, working part-time or volunteering; others have disabilities so significant that paid employment is impossible.

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