MSP slams rise in youths out of work

LOTHIANS Labour MSP Neil Findlay has spoken out on the “tragedy” of a virtual doubling of youth unemployment in West Lothian.

He quoted the latest unemployment figures showing that since 2007 unemployment among 18-24 year-olds in the Almond Valley constituency had increased by 89.7 per cent, from 390 to 740, while in neighbouring Linlithgow constituency it had jumped 97.6 per cent, from 410 to 810.

Latest figures include 190 young people in Almond Valley and 235 in Linlithgow who have been unemployed for more than six months.

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Mr Findlay said: “These figures show how the economic crisis caused by the greed of the banking system and the government’s policies of cuts have affected our young people. We need the UK and Scottish governments to come up with an urgent plan to give our young people the chance to carve out a decent and prosperous life.”