In a scathing critique of contemporary society, columnist Brian Reade has declared that young people are being "shortchanged by self-serving politicians" and deserve a "proper shot at life" rather than being treated as a "joke." He argues that Labour's recently announced "new deal for young people" does not go far enough in addressing the profound challenges facing the younger generation.
A Warped Legacy for the Young
Reade paints a stark picture of the world being passed down to today's youth. He highlights the chilling reality that they are on track to become the first generation in modern history to be worse off than their parents. This is compounded by recent reports, such as one from the Centre for Social Justice, indicating that current primary school children may not receive their state pension until they are at least 75 years old.
The Crushing Weight of Modern Barriers
The columnist details multiple systemic barriers stifling young people's prospects. In the job market, artificial intelligence is decimating opportunities, with data showing a 20% decline in entry-level positions across many white-collar professions. The housing ladder appears virtually inaccessible, forcing many into prolonged stays in their parents' homes, often into their forties, especially as student debt cripples their ability to save for a mortgage.
Meanwhile, Reade notes, the planet they will inherit is being ravaged by climate change, while global political instability, driven by older leaders like Trump, Putin, and Netanyahu, risks catastrophic conflict. He questions why these figures, with an average age of 76, should care about long-term consequences when they will not be around to face them.
A Democratic Disconnect
Reade points to a profound democratic deficit in the UK as a core issue. While the average age of a British citizen is just under 41, the House of Lords, the nation's highest law-making body, has an average age of 70. Over half of its 842 peers are aged 70 or older, with six times more members in the 90-99 age bracket than in the 30-39 range. A mere 3.7% are under 50.
"How can that be right," Reade asks, "especially when these are all political appointments? It's a conscious choice to exclude the very generations for whom these laws are being made."
From Lazy Stereotypes to Systemic Failure
Instead of blaming the one million 16-24-year-olds not in education, employment, or training as "lazy gits," Reade urges society to question why entering adulthood has never been more difficult. He contrasts today's landscape with his own experience leaving school during the 1970s oil crisis, a time he recalls offered free university education, plentiful secure jobs, affordable housing, and cheap mortgages.
"All that has gone," he states bluntly.
Labour's Proposal and the Need for More
While welcoming Labour's proposed £1 billion youth employment scheme as "long overdue," Reade insists that young people need a "much bigger deal." He outlines a comprehensive set of demands:
- An end to the "student debt rip-off."
- A massive increase in social housing construction.
- Incentives for large firms to relocate jobs out of London to other regions.
- Financial encouragement for older workers to retire early, freeing up positions.
- The retirement of peers over 75 and their replacement with individuals under 40.
- Reducing the voting age to 16.
Brian Reade's central plea is for society to finally start taking the needs and futures of young people seriously, moving beyond dismissive stereotypes and towards tangible, structural change that offers genuine hope.
