Fears for the future of Yeovil's young people

A YEOVIL councillor has warned that Chancellor George Osborne’s planned £25billion cuts for the next parliament could be ‘deeply damaging’ to young people.

As part of a cuts package, the Chancellor has called for a £12billion cut in the welfare budget.

Liberal Democrat South Somerset District Council member, Cllr Jon Gleeson, believes the welfare cuts could have a greater impact on younger people.

His comments come after a report by the Prince’s Trust which states that up to three quarters of a million young people may feel that they have ‘nothing to live for’.

LibDems in Government have continued to ensure such welfare cuts would not take place whilst they are in coalition.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Cllr Jon Gleeson.

Cllr Gleeson, who represents the Yeovil Without ward, said: “George Osborne has told on us on several occasions of his desire to cut housing benefit for the under 25s.

“The cross hairs of these additional cuts are clearly set for the younger generation. The Chancellor needs to take in account that many young adults are independent individuals without a safety net.

“There are many young people who perhaps have no parents left, come from a family without the traditional nucleus, or for other reasons are forced to live in another part of the country to their family. The world isn’t so black and white.”

Cllr Gleeson added: “If additional welfare cuts are aimed squarely at young people, we will not only see Under-25s becoming second class citizens, but more young people feeling that there is no hope and no one out there to speak up for them.

“The Chancellor should be ashamed of using young people as a political ploy to appease traditional Conservative voters who have left his party. Young people deserve better.”

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