Labour faces union backlash after minister suggests living wage will not be extended to over-18s before election – UK politics live
Torsten Bell says Labour manifesto ‘did not set out the timeline’ for changes to living wage after scale of youth unemployment crisis revealed in Milburn report
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The UK government has pledged 300,000 new work experience and training placements over three years for young people, backed by major employers including airports and healthcare providers, in response to a youth unemployment crisis. The announcement comes after a report revealed that over one million 16 to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education, or training, with former minister Alan Milburn warning of a "lost generation" and identifying lack of work experience as the primary barrier to employment for young people. Meanwhile, Labour minister Torsten Bell clarified that the party's manifesto did not commit to implementing a living wage for over-18s before the election, despite the manifesto pledge.