PM calls youth unemployment a catastrophe and moral failure

Summary

The UK prime minister says having one million young people out of work or training is an economic catastrophe and a moral failure, according to the BBC. POLITICO reports that more than a million young people are not in education, employment or training, and asks whether Andy Burnham is laying the groundwork for tougher benefit conditions in the budget ahead of Alan Milburn’s review next month.

Timeline

1. POLITICO

   19 Oct 2026, 07:12 UTCSource ↗

   POLITICO says the prime minister calls the number of young people not in education, employment or training an economic catastrophe, and asks whether Burnham is laying the groundwork for tougher benefit conditions in the budget ahead of Alan Milburn’s review next month.

2. BBC

   19 Oct 2026, 09:39 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC reports that the prime minister called youth unemployment a catastrophe and a moral failure, saying one million young people are not in work or training.