Andy Burnham backs welfare reform to boost jobs for the young, Alan Milburn says

By MARTIN BECKFORD, POLICY EDITOR Published: 23:00, 6 July 2026 | Updated: 23:02, 6 July 2026 Andy Burnham is committed to welfare reform, the Government's youth unemployment adviser has insisted. Alan Milburn said the prime minister-in-waiting knows that changing the system is 'absolutely necessary' to help the million young people currently out of work or education. He also claimed there is the same appetite within the Labour Party even though backbench MPs forced Keir Starmer to abandon planned £5billion cuts to disability benefits a year ago. His comments come after Mr Burnham said he would not implement 'crude cuts to benefit levels' that would place claimants in 'even worse poverty' and create a 'backlash'. Mr Milburn said on Monday the Government 'got it wrong' in its attempt to cut the soaring welfare bill. He said the best way to tackle the 'huge welfare problem' is to 'ensure that young people get the opportunity and support... so they can be at work, pay their taxes, and become less dependent on benefits'. He added: 'Everything I've seen from Andy publicly suggests he knows welfare reform is absolutely necessary.'  Mr Milburn, whose landmark report on the Neets (under-25s who are not in education, employment or training) crisis was published in May, said there is a 'generational fault line' as so many young people now have never had a job. Alan Milburn (pictured) said Andy Burnham knows that changing the system is 'absolutely necessary' to help the million young people currently out of work or education Mr Burnham said recently he would not implement 'crude cuts to benefit levels' that would place claimants in 'even worse poverty' and create a 'backlash' Unemployment among those aged 16 to 24 stands at an 11-year high of 16.2 per cent, with rising industry costs squeezing out entry-level roles. 'Hospitality vacancies [have fallen] by a half in four or five years,' Mr Milburn said. 'And that's before the full impact of artificial intelligence.' How should Britain balance supporting young people in need with encouraging them to find work?