Poll: Young people expect to bear the brunt of cuts
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 12:01 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
Sixteen to eighteen year olds agree with the need to cut the deficit - but expect to endure some of the worst effects of the spending review, according to a poll by Demos.
The left-of-centre thinktank found that young people are not optimistic about their future prospects in the age of austerity, with 60% thinking their job prospects are 'fair' or 'poor'.
Meanwhile, 32% expected that the youngest working age group would suffer most from the cuts drive, compared to 28% for 25-34 year olds.
Some government proposals did receive the teenagers' support, with 81% in favour of ending some universal benefits.
Ringfencing of the NHS was also supported, though a majority thought that international development, another protected area, should not be spared the axe.
Kitty Usher, Demos' director argued the poll showed the government needs to pay more attention to the views of the next generation.
"This is good and bad news for the chancellor," she claimed.
"Young people understand and agree with what he is doing, but they question the speed at which he is doing it.
"Our results show a level of maturity from these young people showing Osborne and Cameron would be smart to listen to their views."
The chancellor delivers the critical spending review announcement this afternoon, the implications of which will be pored over for many days to come.
Concern has been raised that young people are set to lose out in a jobs market soon to be added to by thousands of redundant public sector workers.
Ms Usher warned: "These are tomorrow's voters and they are ready to judge the government on the decisions they make today."
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