Unfair welfare

The welfare state was once a moral pillar of British society, something previous generations fought to establish and were proud to support. But in 2014 the absence of these values along with the rise of individualist commercial culture has broken any value and faith Generation Y had in the societal safety net.

The Second World War brought together people of all classes and backgrounds of British society, and a collective mentality grew up against a common enemy.

The post-war generation experienced first-hand the real positive change that the welfare state brought, and reaped the benefits of a state stepping in to solve problems. But Generation Y grew up long after the post-war collectivist glow.

Today, only 20 per cent of generation Y agrees that the welfare state is Britain’s greatest achievement, compared to 70 per cent of those born before the Second World War.

In fact, over recent years, Generation Y has benefitted increasingly less from the welfare state, so perhaps it is no wonder that they are losing faith.

The 1997 Labour government saw the abolition of student grants, replaced by ÂŁ1,000 university fees which grew to ÂŁ3,000 and have tripled to ÂŁ9,000 under the coalition government.

Meanwhile the current government has abolished education maintenance allowance (EMA) which financially supported teenagers from low-income households through education.

George Osborne’s 2014 budget outlined plans to slash housing benefits for under-25s, despite the fact that young people on average have to save for seven years to put down a deposit on a house – a figure which rises to 24 years in London.

Youth unemployment has grown under the current government – from 33.5 to 35.5 per cent – with over 900,000 young people currently out of work, despite Osborne’s 2010 pledge to cut youth unemployment.

On top of this, young people have seen a 20 per cent cut in their wages since 1997, whereas workers in their 50s have seen an increase of 25 per cent.

So why would young people support a system that ignores them? Emma Brunel, Labour activist and blogger speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Generation Right, said, “The way that young people are being shut out from the state – why would they want to be paying in for anything that I’m not sure anyone really believes they are going to benefit from?”

Francesca Easton, a 22 year old student, thinks the benefits system “needs a massive shake up. It costs the state a lot of money and people need to realise that you cannot get something for nothing,” she said.

With the welfare state casting them by the wayside in favour of older, voting generations, is it no wonder they are becoming more individualistic? They are being forced to.

The rise of privatisation within education has led to a growth of competitiveness. For Generation Y, there is more focus on league tables, and university application has become a dog-eat-dog process. Thatcher would be so proud.

This competitiveness forms individualist attitude amongst the youth that is now translating into opposition of the welfare state and a movement towards an every-man-for-himself attitude. Young people today place a much higher value on personal responsibility, and are often disparaging of the benefits system.

Chris Swanborough, 20, supports benefits, “if they are required and justified.” But says, “It is frustrating when people take advantage of the system we have in place. Everyone has to work to get by, so why do they think they don’t have to?”

The media plays a huge part in the formation of these attitudes. As Anthony Curley, chair of Unite’s youth members said, “It’s not a surprise that, given the mass media’s open disdain for the welfare state that many young people have a hardened attitude to welfare.

“The union is working with members both in work and in their communities to re-engage and restore value in the welfare system.

Anthony Curley explained, “Our workplace organising and community membership is delivering a more honest analysis of the importance of our safety net.

“Through this political education I have found that young people usually soon change their minds.”

In tomorrow’s final part of our Generation Y series, Molly addresses the political abandonment of young people.