Labour need to remember, we’re talking about real young people, not just facts and figures

I was coming home from the pub last night after watching England lose to Uruguay, ruminating on what went wrong, our impending removal from further World Cup 2014 matches, and the distinct lack of pizazz in the squad. I picked up a copy of the Independent, searching for a feel good story to perk me up. Silly me. I was faced with the headline that Labour is planning to remove benefits for young people who are out of work.

Labour’s policy, to be brought in when we are in government, means benefits will be linked to training, and means-tested according to parental income. The offer of education for 18-21 year olds is great, and will no doubt fill many gaps that are left by an education system ravaged by Gove and co. But there are a few issues that concern me.

One is the demand that young people out of work live with their parents. This is short-sighted and can put young people at serious risk. I know this might come as a shock – brace yourselves, people – but not everyone comes from a nice middle class family with a house and a spare room. And not all young people have good relationships with their parents either.

In fact, this week I’m proud to be hosting a fundraising event for the Albert Kennedy Trust, a brilliant charity that works with young LGBT people who are homeless or living in a hostile environment. 85% young people using the charity’s services have faced some level of rejection by their parents just for being brave enough to come out and be who they are. And it is estimated that 1 in 4 homeless youths may identify as LGB or T. You don’t need this 40-something to tell you about how tough it is right now for young people, whatever their background; read Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett’s (an actual real live young person!) honest opinion piece on the subject.

I am also concerned because after they have been shafted so disgracefully by the Lib Dems and the Conservatives, Labour has a natural core vote from young people. We should be reaching out to young people, offering positive policies that embrace and empower, not estrange and enrage. Extending voting to 16 and 17 year olds is one way political parties of all persuasions will be forced to create positive policies for the young, not just pay lip service to them. Labour have pledged to make this happen in government but that also means we need to have policies that will encouraged those 16 and 17 year olds vote for us once they are enfranchised.

We need to inspire and encourage young people, not make them feel ashamed or bully them for not being able to find work. I cringe at the phrase “hardworking”, and not just because it was the Conservative conference catchphrase last year (though that is enough to bring me out in hives). Who is setting the ‘hardworking’ benchmark? And what does hard work mean in terms of a paycheck at the end of the week?

I believe it is an arbitrary yardstick and serves to further widen the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. If working hard meant you could feed and clothe yourself, pay the rent and bills and occasionally go to the cinema or for a meal out, then great. But we know from the cost of living crisis that this is not the reality for many hard working young people – and families – across the country. Food bank usage is up 400% in London alone, and the vast majority of service users are working, but can’t make ends meet at the end of the month.

We are selling a hollow dream that working hard equals success and security, with dwindling support if you’re caught in the nightmare of losing your job and home. It’s a Conservative agenda and Labour are treading dangerously close.

Yes Labour will need to make cuts. Yes the money Labour will have to spend in government will not be as much as we may like. But we must remember that we are talking about the real lives, hopes and dreams of young people and not just facts and figures.