Liz McInnes attacks 'Tory war on young people'

Liz McInnes, Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton, has attacked the Conservative government for their "war on young people" in the week that they voted to block 16 and 17 year olds being given the vote and in favour of "drastic cuts" to Further Education.

On Tuesday, Ms McInnes voted with other Labour MPs in favour of giving 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in local elections.

Ms McInnes said: "I am beginning to wonder what exactly the Conservatives have against young people. This week they voted against giving them the right to vote, which many young people contact me about. I have no doubt the vast majority of 16 and 17 year olds are more than capable of making informed, rational decisions, and given that they can leave school, work full time, pay taxes, get married and join the armed forces I would have no hesitation giving them the right to vote.

"The Conservatives have also this week voted against Labour proposals to protect Further Education (FE) funding. The Tories will instead press on with making yet more huge cuts to the FE sector, putting at risk the ability of colleges such as our own fantastic Hopwood Hall to properly prepare 16-18 year olds for the future and help build the productivity and economic prosperity of Britain.

"More than 100 Chairs and Chief Executives of FE colleges, including the Chair of Hopwood Hall College, who is a Conservative councillor, have written to the Prime Minister to urge that he thinks again about cutting up to 40% from the FE budget.

"We may have lost the vote this week but I will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our colleges in asking the government to support the FE sector and help it fulfil its potential in building our nation’s future prosperity."