Daily roundup 23 February: Unemployment, apprentice pay, and youth votes

The number of young people not in employment or full time education has increased by 8,000 in the last quarter, official figures have revealed. Analysis by the House of Commons library for the Labour Party has shown young people are now worse off compared to any other time since 1992, the Observer reports. The Office of National Statistics says the unemployment rate among young people now stands at 14.4 per cent, with the rate for all working-age people at 5.7 per cent.


Apprentices struggle to travel to work or study as well as take time off because they are paid “exploitative” rates, the National Union of Students (NUS) has claimed. The NUS believes that if the apprenticeship programme wants to solve youth employment, it must pay higher wages, which currently stands at £2.72 an hour. The BBC reports that all three main political parties have pledged their support for the apprenticeship programme.


Young people would rather not vote for any of the main political parties at the next general election because they are fed up with politicians, a survey suggests. According to the Sunday Mirror the poll shows young people want their voices to be heard but believe none of the political parties speak for them, with 70 per cent of 18- to 22-year-olds most likely not to back anyone.


There has been a rise in support for a project which aims to improve facilities for young people on an estate in Barnet. The West Hendon Estate has seen an increase in numbers joining the West Hendon Youth Project after receiving support from Barnet Homes. Funding has also been provided by Barnet Council to start an art and history project.  


A PR firm that is responsible for promoting the government’s anti-obesity drive also does work for fast food companies, the Daily Mail reports. Freud Communications, which runs public health campaigns such as Change4Life, also handles marketing for Pepsico and Mars. The findings come after a British Medical Journal report found scientists that advise ministers on obesity were also receiving money for research from the junk food industry.


Labour's plans to strengthen the qualifications and status of head teachers in England are to be announced by the shadow education secretary today. According to the Guardian, Tristram Hunt will make the announcement, proposing a formal partnership between school leaders and business to improve schools’ financial management. Labour believes many head teachers are unlikely to gain the skills they require in the course of their teaching career.