The next generation of socialists returned to the Youth Parliament today, with the 13 year-olds armed with the usual bright ideas of demanding free stuff from the government. First they decried living wage inequality between under-22s and older, independent workers because the “cost of living is the same for both”. One particularly enthusiastic delegate even cited Orwell’s Animal Farm to claim that older people are “more equal” than the young. Not quite sure that’s what Orwell meant…
After debating higher wages for teens, the Youth Parliament went on to call for free transport for young people. One ‘Member of Youth Parliament’ said in the Commons:
“Travel expenses can also make young people more anxious and worried…if travel was for free for people aged 17 and under money can be saved for those people and can be spent on themselves and their families…it could also probably decrease the amount of people staying at home during summer holidays and increase socialising.”
UKYP has a colourful manifesto, which includes “balancing freedom of speech against the rights of others”, introducing a “wealth tax” more “safe spaces for all.” It brings Guido no pleasure to report that taxpayers foot the bill for the UK Youth Parliament and these Commons debates – DCMS has given them £750,000 since 2023. Just for them to call for more handouts…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”