Andy Burnham to urge MPs to back radical welfare cuts to get young people off benefits and into work

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Andy Burnham is expected to use a special meeting of Labour MPs to urge them to back Alan Milburn's review into youth unemployment before it is formally presented to the Commons.

Published: 23:53 GMT, 14 November 2026 | Updated: 23:55 GMT, 14 November 2026

Andy Burnham will this week battle to face down Labour critics of radical welfare reforms to get young people off benefits and into work.

The Prime Minister is expected to use a special meeting of Labour MPs on Tuesday morning to urge them to back Alan Milburn's review into youth unemployment before it is formally presented to the Commons.

Mr Milburn will unveil plans for billions of pounds of upfront investment to help young people find jobs by slashing sickness aid and other benefits to help pay for that investment.

His report will recommend how to curb the number of so-called 'Neets' – 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training – which topped a million earlier this year for the first time in more than a decade.

On Saturday, Mr Milburn proposed a legally binding 'opportunity guarantee' to give 16- to 24-year-olds a job, training or employment support.

He told the BBC: 'It should be a guarantee for a young person. Because at the moment, the only guarantee they've got is a very simple thing – to get a benefit. What sort of a life is that?'

However, there is deep unease on Labour's Left at the threat that young people already on state support may lose money – with some claiming it will mean disabled people who cannot work will be poorer.

On Saturday night, one senior Labour MP told The Mail on Sunday: 'I suspect this will only go ahead if it applies to future claimants – not those young people currently claiming benefits. In the end, I think Burnham will have to compromise on this – it's the only fair way.'

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