News from The Labour Party

Ed Balls: Time for Tories to back guarantee for school leavers

Labour’s Schools Secretary Ed Balls MP today renewed his challenge to the Conservatives to back the Labour Government’s successful September Guarantee for school leavers.

The call came after unemployment figures published today showed a fall in the number of 16 and 17 year olds unemployed and record numbers of 16 and 17 year olds in full-time education.

The Tories have repeatedly refused to match Labour’s September Guarantee which ensures that every school leaver who wants to continue learning will have a place at school, college, in training or an apprenticeship. They have also refused to match the additional £655 million of funding announced in the Budget to help deliver the September Guarantee during the economic downturn.

Ed Balls said:

“Today’s figures show that Labour’s guarantee for school leavers is working and making a real difference during this economic downturn. Unlike the Tories we won’t repeat the mistakes of the past by abandoning a generation of young people.

“David Cameron and Michael Gove need to explain why they would leave young people on the scrapheap by refusing to match our guarantee of a place in education and training for every 16 and 17 year old who want to stay on.”

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