Alan Milburn Warns Young Britons Face a ‘Lost Generation’ on Benefits
A warning is being sounded about the future of young people in Britain and it’s coming from the man now advising the government on work and welfare. Alan Milburn, the former health secretary and now Labour’s work tsar, says anxious young Britons risk becoming a lost generation trapped on benefits, not because they lack ambition, but because the system around them is failing to meet the reality of their lives.
Milburn argues that for years, governments have made the wrong choices. He says investment has tilted heavily toward older generations, while younger people face rising mental health problems, unstable work and a welfare system that often treats them with suspicion rather than support. The result, he warns, is a growing number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training and who are increasingly reliant on benefits with little hope of a clear path forward.
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At the heart of the debate is the role of the Department for Work and Pensions and a new review into so-called youth inactivity. Milburn is leading that review, which is meant to examine why more young people, including those with health conditions or disabilities, are outside the workforce. Critics fear the process is designed to justify benefit cuts and tighter eligibility, especially for under-22s and for young people with mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions.
Supporters of Milburn’s approach say the system cannot simply park young people on benefits and walk away. They argue that early intervention, work-focused support and stronger links between education, health services and employers are essential if young people are to avoid long-term dependence. But campaigners and disability advocates warn that pushing vulnerable young people into low-paid or unsuitable work could deepen harm rather than solve it.
This matters far beyond Westminster. Youth inactivity affects economic growth, public spending and social cohesion. More importantly, it shapes a generation’s sense of dignity and possibility. If young people feel written off early, the costs will be felt for decades, in poorer health, lower productivity and deeper inequality.
Alongside Milburn’s review, a separate inquiry by the Commons Work and Pensions Committee is also underway, aiming to understand the barriers young people face and how meaningful, sustainable work can be created. That parallel process is seen by many as a crucial counterbalance.
The stakes are clear. This is a moment that could define how Britain treats its youngest adults, whether it invests in their potential or manages their exclusion. Stay with us as this story develops and keep watching for the decisions that will shape a generation’s future.
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