Video: Youth Fight for Jobs on ITV’s Daybreak

Ian Pattison appeared on ITV’s Daybreak this morning on behalf of Youth Fight for Jobs in a section on Traineeships for young people.

Watch excerpt

The government declared it was helping young people prepare for the world of work but Ian says it is no more than a gimmick.

Lazy, workshy Tory minister fails to wake up in time to defend his policy

Tory Business Minister, Matthew Hancock, is announcing his Traineeships scheme today, and was due to debate and defend his new flagship policy on ITV’s Daybreak, with Youth Fight for Jobs supporter, Ian Pattison.

Ian said: “Can you imagine my surprise when I discovered a minister whose government berates so-called ‘shirkers’ couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed to defend his own policy.

“He overslept and missed our debate. If the minister was a jobseeker, he could lose his benefits for up to three months for such an offence.

“The Tory MP doesn’t have to worry about things like that, as I’m sure he’s more than happy with his meagre £97,000 salary, on top of the £43,230 he claimed last year in expenses – a new personal record.

“Hancock’s Traineeship scheme is the latest gimmick coming out of the Tories to disguise the fact they have failed to tackle the staggering problems of unemployment effecting young people.

“Hancock and his government are trying to shift the blame for youth unemployment away from them and their failed system and onto the unemployed.

“Young people are not lazy. In fact, it is the Tories’ cuts agenda that is worsening the economic crisis, slashing jobs in the public and private sector.

“Jessops is the latest high-street chain to go bust; 2,000 workers could lose their jobs. Research has revealed that it is harder to get an apprenticeship than get into Oxbridge.

“Hancock claims his Traineeships are a stepping stone to apprenticeships, but the whole point of an apprenticeship is to secure people with the training they need for a job. Hancock’s scheme doesn’t create any new jobs, or even promise any apprenticeships”.

Later, when asked about his absence by the media, Hancock said:

“I was 30 seconds late for my interview at 6.40 this morning, so they wouldn’t let me into the studio to make my case.

“It proves the point: you’ve got to be on time for work or there are consequences. I’ll learn from my own example.”

---

Youth Fight for Jobs is a campaign which calls for job creation not destruction. It was launched on 2009 in response to rising levels of youth unemployment.

It has recently completed the 330 mile Jarrow March for Jobs. It is backed by the Unite, PCS, RMT, CWU, UCU, FBU, BECTU and TSSA trade unions.

For more info please contact Ian on 020 8558 7947 or 07766585543

www.youthfightforjobs.com

Full Daybreak episode containing full interview (2 mins) – link will work until 17 Jan 2013.

http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/daybreak/10-01-2013

Starts at 38:18 with an interview with Jarrow Marcher Michael Wright. Sorry, there is a lot of adverts.

More coverage on the event from the media:

London Evening Standard – http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ill-learn-from-my-own-example-says-skills-minister-after-missing-interview-because-he-turned-up-late-8446450.html

Independent – http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/01/10/whose-blinds-were-down-today/

Guardian – http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/10/skills-minister-matthew-hancock-bed

Daily Mirror – http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/conservative-mp-matthew-hancock-turns-1528892

The Daily Mail gives Youth Fight for Jobs the most coverage, and is hardest on Matthew “chauffeur-driven executive car” Hancock – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2260366/Skills-Minister-misses-Daybreak-interview-making-young-people-employable-OVERSLEEPING.html

East Anglian Daily Times – http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk_mp_ under_fire_for_turning_up_ late_to_tv_interview_1 _1789027

The event has even been satired! – http://www.dailyshame.co.uk/2013/01/satire/matthew-hancock-cant-get-out-of-bed-for-daybreak-because-hes-young-you-see/comment-page-1/