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A TUC National Rally for Young People - called in protest at the effect of the government's cuts programme on students and young people both in and out of work.nRead the full text of Graham's speech below or watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cfHSDx3EX8
"My name’s Graham Smith, and I’m the Chair of UNISON’s National Young Members Forum and also one of the many students here today that have taken part in the occupation of Edinburgh University and our continuing anti-cuts activity.
When I left school, I was lucky enough to win a place as a Youth Work apprentice. But if I left school this year, I know that I wouldn’t have that same chance.
If I left school this year, what might my future look like?
First off, there’s a one-in-five chance I’d end up on the dole. As we saw the last time we had a Tory government, we know those young folk that are out of work now are likely to stay there for the rest of their lives. This is a blatant waste of potential.
They’ll be joining the million other young people in this country left behind by the recession. The last time we saw this many young people out of work, it was in 1992 – under the Tories again! This time, it’s 16 and 17yr olds who are being hit hardest. We saw a massive jump to 200,000 of them out of work last quarter.
How does that contribute to growth?
Well then, what does this government plan to do to help them get into work?
It’ll force massive cuts on our Connexions services. UNISON members there are facing up to 33% cuts, with no credible plan to support those young people left behind and on how to continue to provide the service that they depend upon.
Like Connexions, it’s the Cinderella services that have been neglected and denied the resources to properly flourish that are hit hardest by these regressive cuts. Where is the responsibility to young people there?
The previous Labour government introduced the Future Jobs Fund, which was the most progressive employment programme for a generation. To be clear, that isn’t a compliment as it was far from perfect. The Future Jobs Fund for its faults was a damn sight better than what we have now – nothing!
Employers want young people that have done a real job, like the Future Jobs Fund gave them, not just unpaid work experience which simply takes advantage.
Where will young people get that opportunity now?
Talking about opportunities: what about the school and college students who are being denied the support that they need through the removal of the EMA.
We know that too many young people won’t be able to afford to stay in education: struggling to pay for books, travel and the costs of living.
They’re taking away the opportunity for young people to benefit from a quality education combined with the financial support that they need.
The ConDems have clearly set out to attack young people.
It’s at this point that I was told to put a joke in my speech, so here it is:
Michael Gove.
The attack on EMA was horrendous by leaving so many young people out in the cold, but on top of that we have the three-fold hike in tuition fees. The vibrant student movement which has emerged from its hibernation because of this attack has been a huge inspiration to trade unionists, affirming that we are not alone in the belief that there is an alternative to wholesale cuts. The young people, students and trade unionists that are showing ‘hashtag solidarity’ in London today are showing that this movement will not be easily defeated.
Others today will speak about that movement, but if I have one contribution to make it is this: The trade union movement, and especially the NUS must be much more responsive to the organic movement that has developed from that attack. We can’t afford to divide ourselves as the Left in Britain has for decades through sectarian disputes. In Edinburgh, I’ve seen people from ideologies across the spectrum becoming active, and I’m glad to see that this has been the case nationally.
The reason for their activism: That every LibDem MP and candidate promised those students that they would fight against cuts and for a fairer alternative. They now try to justify their capitulation to the ultra-Right by proclaiming that hikes in fees and the resulting personal debt is more progressive and that young people will be better off. The word for that is Bullshit.
Clegg lied to us, trying to paint himself as a more progressive alternative to New Labour – it often wasn’t hard and his manifesto backed that up. But as we know, coalition is an ideal excuse to get rid of any policies that were popular. The thing is though, Cameron and Clegg didn’t have to work too hard to build a veneer of unity between their ideologies.
I hate to correct the thousands of student protesters that have been doing a fantastic job of leading our fightback, but the chant is wrong:
Nick Clegg didn’t turn blue, he already was.
That veneer of unity between the coalition parties is already cracked and it has been for months. We’ve seen that it only takes a recording of a constituency surgery for those cracks to show. We need to organise in our workplaces, colleges, universities, schools, communities and amongst our friends to defeat these horrendous cuts.
The people, and I use that term loosely, that are making those cuts have organised amongst their friends: the bankers, credit rating agencies with Lord Ashcroft and private consultants bankrolling them, to justify the dismantling of the services that we all depend upon.
But really, who needs public services when you can go private?
Having experienced the joys of living under this ConDem government for only a few months, it is quite clear that they have declared their uncompromising determination to serve the best interests of the class they represent.
That is not us.
They don’t receive EMA unless they’re one of the many tax evaders out there.
They don’t struggle to support a family on minimum wage.
They don’t have to rack up massive personal debts to get an education.
They are not like us.
They may claim that “we’re all in it together” but I know, and you know that we are not. What we need is alternative plan for Britain that is focused on growth; that ensures we have quality public services, not privatised, and that gives young people a decent chance in life. Everything that this government’s agenda is not!
If I have one message that you take away from this fantastic demonstration of our determination to defeat these regressive ConDem cuts, it is this:
Organise, Organise, Organise.
People are angry at these cuts, but we have not been good enough in the past at bringing them into our movement and focusing that anger.
We must reach out to those outside our normal targets, outside our comfort zone.
We must work with our trades councils, in our universities and in our communities to form Anti-Cuts alliances locally and join in with national action.
These alliances are how we will defeat the ConDems cuts.
These alliances are how we will build strong community links that last.
These alliances are how we will get the huge amount people there on the 26th March to show the real strength of mainstream public anger that will defeat their cuts.
Get involved with your local action and I’m sure I’ll see you on the streets.
Thank you for listening.
Change the world."