Alan Milburn calls for legal job or training guarantee for youth

Former Labour minister Alan Milburn has proposed a major shift in government policy to address youth unemployment in the UK. His forthcoming review recommends a legal guarantee ensuring young people have access to employment or training, while cutting back on welfare spending for under-25s who refuse help. The proposals suggest shifting government spending away from youth benefits and redirecting funds toward education, training, and employment support. Under the plan, those who decline support could lose their benefits entirely, as the system aims to reduce long-term welfare dependency. The review comes as data shows nearly one million young people in the UK are not in employment, education, or training. While the government is expected to welcome the full report, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stopped short of committing to implementing all of the recommendations immediately.