Conservatives warn youth unemployment in parts of England exceeds Eastern European rates

Youth unemployment has become a focal point for the Conservative Party, which claims that in a number of English constituencies the proportion of 20-24-year-olds on out-of-work benefits exceeds the rates recorded in Bulgaria and Slovenia last year. Figures indicate that in areas like Blackpool South, Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Kingston Upon Hull East and East Thanet, the share of young claimants is close to three in ten.

The party blames Labour’s recent increase in employer National Insurance, introduced by former Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and urges the government to halve the levy for 21-24-year-olds in the upcoming Budget. Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately warned that the situation represents a “moral crisis” and could create a lost generation of workers. The Tories also note that in 40 constituencies the number of young benefit claimants has risen by over 20% since Labour took power, highlighting Edinburgh West and Beaconsfield as examples of steep increases.