Liberal Democrats launch policy for young people

9.00.00pm GMT Wed 10th Mar 2010

Liberal Democrat Spokeswoman for Youth and Equality, Lynne Featherstone today launched the party's 'Free to be Young' policy paper.

Launching the paper at The Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey, the policy outlined how the Liberal Democrats will ensure that all young people have better access to after-school facilities, comprehensive support and training for those entering the workplace and legislation in place to stamp out homophobic bullying.

The paper includes proposals to:

• Introduce a new 'Paid Internship' scheme allowing 800,000 young people to receive a 'Training Allowance' of £55 a week for up to 3 months

• Support schools, colleges and apprenticeship schemes to promote opportunities for disabled children and young people

• Immediately remove young people under 16 from the National DNA Database unless they have committed a sexual or violent offence

• Ensure that all schools include ways to tackle homophobic bullying and at least one teacher in every school has sufficient training to do so

• Cut back on bureaucracy and red tape so youth organisations are free to be creative and flexible

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone said:

"It is clear that Labour will continue to fail our young people and the Conservatives will ignore them completely.

"While youth organisations are left to do their vital work on a shoestring, greedy bankers are bailed out by the taxpayer and flaunt their bonuses while we watch every penny.

"Our young people will inherit an economy where it is tougher then ever to enter the work place.

"It is high time that realistic measures are put in place to support the future workforce from mass unemployment and crippling debt.

"Only the Liberal Democrats will give young people and those who work with them the chance for a real future."