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Government spends 25 times more on benefits than jobs for young people, says Milburn
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Government spends 25 times more on benefits than jobs for young people, says Milburn

BBC News · May 23, 2026, 12:00 PM · Also reported by 1 other source

Key takeaways

  • Laura Kuenssberg Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Welfare system 'shameful' for young people out of work - Alan Milburn.
  • Former minister Alan Milburn told the BBC that this was "shameful" and with nearly a million young people not in work or education (Neets), a complete "system reset" was needed.
  • The first part of his government-commissioned report into the issue will be published this week.

Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.

Laura Kuenssberg Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Welfare system 'shameful' for young people out of work - Alan Milburn. The government spends 25 times as much on benefits for young people than it does on supporting them into work, the author of a major review into youth inactivity has said.

Former minister Alan Milburn told the BBC that this was "shameful" and with nearly a million young people not in work or education (Neets), a complete "system reset" was needed.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Milburn said it was absolutely essential Labour reformed the welfare system, even though the government had shelved some planned benefit reforms in the face of opposition from their own MPs.

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