Esther McVey

The Northern Powerhouse

ALMOST one in 10 young people never intend to start working, a shocking new survey has found. What? Seriously? Did 10 per cent of actually say that 18-24 year olds feeling no shame A or sense of guilt? What do they plan to do? How do they intend to spend their days? Making TikTok videos while sipping Costa cappuccinos? Chatting with friends about how tough life is? What planet are they on, and who do they think will pay for them to sit about complaining how hard done by they are?

The survey oozed excuses too. It said 30 per cent do not think they can achieve their career ambitions - well the best way not to achieve them is to not start trying to meet them! It also revealed young people are losing hope in what they dub a "hostile labour market" which requires skills they do not have. Give me a break. "Hostile labour market"? What does that even mean? A new environment that requires you to work?

Their answers go well beyond the usual teenage angst and laziness of not washing or hanging up clothes because mum will do that. They reveal 10 per cent of young people aren't planning to raise a finger their whole life. My immediate response was anger, but it faded to sadness. What on earth has happened to this generation?