At the Green Party's conference in Brighton, co-deputy leader Mothin Ali unveiled a significant proposal aimed at combating youth unemployment. This initiative promises a two-year job guarantee for those under the age of 24, who would receive job offers within four months of completing their education or training.
Ali highlighted the plight of nearly one million young people who currently find themselves without work, training, or educational opportunities, describing them as "bored, desperate, and lost." The proposed program seeks to place these individuals in jobs within the private sector, with the government covering half of their wages.
Targeted Support for Areas with High Youth Unemployment
Although the Green Party has yet to disclose a specific budget for this initiative, they advocate that it would lead to decreased welfare costs and increased tax income as young people find employment. The strategy aims to initially focus on regions with the greatest youth unemployment challenges, including areas such as Rotherham, Ceredigion, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Broxtowe, and South Staffordshire. Ultimately, the Greens aspire to implement this program on a national scale.
As part of the proposal, employers will be exempt from National Insurance payments for these young hires, but they must also commit to providing on-the-job training. Ali positioned this plan as a more ambitious alternative to the current government initiative, which offers six-month job placements for individuals who have been unemployed for 18 months.
He voiced concerns about government strategies that jeopardize benefits for young people who refuse to accept short-term positions, stating, "Threatening young people with cuts to Universal Credit... that’s not a youth strategy." Ali emphasized that working-class youth should have realistic opportunities to fulfill their ambitions, especially given the rising numbers of 16- to 24-year-olds who are neither employed nor in education since the Covid pandemic, which has led to figures nearing one million.
Additional Proposals for Public Ownership
In another significant address at the conference, Rachel Millward, co-deputy leader alongside Ali, proposed the immediate public ownership of Thames Water and South East Water. Millward contended that this could be accomplished without compensating shareholders, citing ongoing water supply issues and the need for new reservoirs as justification.
While other political leaders, such as Andy Burnham, have backed increasing public control over water services, they have not fully committed to nationalization plans. Millward criticized current government approaches, describing the Prime Minister's strategy as inadequate and asserting, "We need public ownership now, and we have all the tools we need to make it happen."
In response, South East Water emphasized its commitment to investing £1.9 billion into local infrastructure and service improvements over the next five years, reaffirming their accountability to the communities they serve.
