Andrew Western

Andrew Western

Labour — Stretford and Urmston

Speaking in the House of Commons on 2 June 2026

Debate

Milburn Review: Interim Report

Contribution

That was a predictable set of questions from the hon. Lady, who has the audacity to label the NEETs of this country “Labour’s lost generation” when the number of NEETs increased by 250,000 in the Conservatives’ last few years in office. She tells us that there were no solutions in this report—that is hardly a surprise for anybody paying attention, given that it is an interim report, with further recommendations to follow. The hon. Lady mentioned national insurance contributions. What does Alan Milburn actually say in his report? Let me direct the House’s attention to paragraph 268, which says “the UK’s NEET crisis is much more long-term and deep-seated than any decisions taken in the last few years.” Specifically on NICs, paragraph 266 says, “it is worth remembering that those under 21 remain exempt from employer NICs and, as the review has already highlighted, the increase in youth inactivity long precedes any recent changes”. [Interruption.] The hon. Lady chirps that I am in denial—this is the Conservatives’ record, their problem, and a mess that we will solve. On that very point, there was no explanation—[Interruption.]

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