Political opinion with Jess Brown-Fuller MP: The challenges facing young people in this year’s budget

As I write this week's column, the focus is to the mid-week moment, when the new Chancellor will deliver his first budget under a new Prime Minister, and individuals and businesses across the Chichester constituency wait to see what the consequences will be.

 The Liberal Democrats are calling for the budget to be a 'breathing space budget', funded in part by a windfall tax on the profits of banks. Measures would include a reduction in VAT for hospitality venues, a drop in the rate of fuel duty to save money for every person at the pump, and an energy essentials guarantee to ensure the cost of heating homes does not become even more unaffordable for the most vulnerable in society.

 The Government must also take the opportunity to address the moral failure we face with nearly a million young people not in education, employment or training. That is nearly a million young people with untapped potential that are being left behind. This has immense knock-on effects for the state, adding to the ballooning welfare bill and lending itself to the mental health crisis we are witnessing in our young people.

 The Government should be focusing on improving the business environment to get young people into work as quickly as possible after the age of 16. This includes the vital route of apprenticeships. Businesses and students in Chichester know their benefits. Many have gone down this route at Chichester College, or gone on to begin careers at Rolls-Royce, and likewise, having met with them, I know S-FABS Steel Fabrication provides brilliant opportunities. These apprenticeships provide young people with vital skills and, just as importantly, connections in industry to propel their careers.

 However, the availability of apprenticeships has been severely affected by the underperforming economy, and in Chichester, I’ve heard from various sectors about the struggles they face. The hair and beauty sector has long relied on this system to train new staff, but rising costs has meant some salons can’t afford to take them on this year for the first time in many years. Similar issues are faced in construction.

 Giving a VAT cut to hospitality businesses, as well as exempting small businesses from the national insurance employer contributions would provide these businesses with more financial flexibility to welcome new apprentices.

 This week, I hosted a dozen young people from the constituency in Parliament to take part in an Insights Day. The day is designed not only to give young people a chance to hear about work opportunities in politics more broadly and how Parliament really works. The twelve individuals I met were engaged, motivated and willing to learn and they all have a huge amount to offer society as they leave education and begin their working life. It would be a moral failure if we didn't create an environment where opportunities are afforded to them to thrive.