Youth employment key to Jim Murphy's election strategy

Jim Murphy will today set out how the Labour Party’s approach to youth unemployment sets it apart from the Conservatives, warning that Scotland “cannot afford another discarded generation.”

Speaking in Leven alongside Melanie Ward, Scottish Labour’s candidate in May for Glenrothes and Central Fife, the Scottish Labour leader is expected to re-iterate Labour’s pledge to ban zero hours contracts and introduce a Living Wage, alongside plans to fine employers who fail to pay the minimum wage.

Murphy is expected to say: “By the end of this week the big difference between Labour and the Tories will become ever clearer for Scots. Nobody will be in any doubt that Scottish Labour offers a vision of a Scotland where every young person gets the best chance to get on in life, regardless of their background.

“The contrast with the Tories, who want to take us back to public spending levels of the 1930s, couldn’t be greater.

“Electing a Labour Government in May means we can fulfil the promise of a generation of young Scots who are being discarded by the Tories.  Thousands of kids across the country have the talent, the skill and the ambition to get on in life. All they need is a helping hand, and that’s what a Labour Government will give.”

Meanwhile SNP MEP Ian Hudghton has highlighted a report showing that the UK sits seventh out of the 22 EU states with a minimum wage – behind Luxembourg, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

Hudghton said the Eurostat report highlighted the need for control over the minimum wage to be devolved to Holyrood.

He said: “The UK national minimum wage is just not good enough to compete with the rising cost of living and this report demonstrates the extent of Westminster’s failures on the issue of low pay – and shows the UK lagging behind small, independent nations like Ireland and Luxembourg.

“Powers over the national minimum wage could and should have been devolved as part of the Smith Commission process - giving Scotland the power to act where Westminster has failed to do so.  But unfortunately, the Westminster parties completely failed to meet the aspirations of the people of Scotland.”

Nearly three quarters of British 18-21 year olds earning less than the Living Wage, compared to 27% of 22-29 year olds.

While ONS stats estimate that 60,000 Scottish workers are on zero hours contracts, the STUC estimates the total is higher, at 84,000 people.