Responding to the latest unemployment statistics, which show that 80% of those losing their jobs in the year to March were under 35, Christine Jardine MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Treasury, commented: “People all across the UK – especially young people – are worried about their future. Millions still rely on job support and thousands are still out of work. We can’t leave any of them behind as we get out of lockdown.
“This Government has overseen the worst economic downturn in 300 years, yet they have completely failed to come up with a strategy to create new jobs and invest in peoples’ skills, to avert a jobs crisis.
“Ministers need to take seriously the risk to people’s jobs and keep furlough support in place at least until the end of the year. And we must finally help small businesses create new jobs, by slashing their National Insurance Contributions.”