Sarah Carr backs lifeboat for generation left behind

1.49.02pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Sep 2009

Hereford, Ross and South Herefordshire Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Sarah Carr has given her backing to a nation-wide plan to tackle youth unemployment. The plan funded by scrapping the government's VAT cut now rather than in January would create a Paid Internship scheme with 800,000 places for young people. It would fund 10,000 more university places, 50,000 more college-based Foundation degrees and more, fully funded, adult apprenticeships. The plan was launched by Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat Party leader.

Sarah Carr said:

"The recession has left thousands of young people, whether they are school leavers, apprentices or university graduates, without jobs and worried for their future. Many young people are telling me about the problems they are finding getting a job in Herefordshire. As a result I wholeheartedly support Nick Clegg's proposals to help young people find work.

"The government's solution is to ignore the problem and hope it goes away, waiting a year to offer any help, whilst the Conservative party continue to fail to offer any kind of substance or solution at all. All the while, young people are left to sit at home on benefits with limited opportunities for jobs or further education.

"The Liberal Democrat plan will create opportunities for thousands of young people from all backgrounds, all of which can be paid for by stopping the government's pointless VAT cut now and not in January, as planned. This plan would provide a lifeboat to a generation that has been left behind by the Labour government and I fully support the campaign."

In addition to the new paid Internships and educational places the plan also introduces a new '90 day promise' to make employment or education opportunities available after three months unemployment as opposed to the current period of 10 months.