Young people across Bedfordshire are being let down by this Government time and time again.
Since being elected as our MP in 2024, I have made it a priority to put young people at the heart of what we do in Parliament, because they are not just our future, they are our present too.
In recent months, I’ve been delighted to welcome students from across Mid Bedfordshire to both my constituency office and Westminster.
These work experience placements are not just about showing how Parliament works; they are a two-way street.
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I hear directly from young people about their ambitions, their frustrations, and the barriers they feel are holding them back.
Despite Ministers talking the talk on supporting young people, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Policies such as the introduction of the (un)Employment Bill and increases in National Insurance are making it harder, not easier, for businesses to take a chance on young people entering the workforce.
For many school leavers and graduates, that crucial first step onto the jobs ladder is becoming increasingly out of reach. In fact, the latest statistics show that the unemployment rate for 18-24-year-olds has risen from 13.7% to 14.3%.
And it doesn’t stop there. From the cost of housing to the challenge of saving for the future, too many young people feel that the system is stacked against them.
The promise of hard work leading to security and stability is starting to feel distant.
That is why I have been working closely with NextGen Tories to champion practical solutions.
We are focused on expanding opportunities, whether that is helping young people secure their first job, supporting pathways into apprenticeships, or making it easier to take those first steps onto the housing ladder.
From my experiences meeting Bedfordshire’s young people, they are ambitious, talented and ready to contribute. They do not need more rhetoric or reheated announcements.
They need the Government to create an environment for young people to thrive in.
If we are serious about building a stronger future for Bedfordshire and Britain, it starts by giving the next generation a fair chance to succeed. Right now, too many are still waiting.
This is a monthly guest column provided by
Blake Stephenson, Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire.
It is published unedited and does not
reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.
