As the Labour Party today launched a membership drive aimed at young people, the Young Greens - the youth wing of the Green Party - warned that when in government Labour's own policies had adversely affected young people.
Labour is now offering membership for one penny to new recruits under 27. The party's ads point to the government's trebling of tuition fees and its abolition of EMAs and the Future Jobs Fund (1).
But the Young Greens today drew attention to the fact that it was a Labour government that introduced tuition fees in the first place, and a Labour government that turned down proposals by Greens and others for massive job-creation to tackle the recent recession.
Sam Coates, Co-chair of the Young Greens, said today:
"Many young people will feel the same anger we do at the coalition government's policies, especially over tuition fees.
"However, what we have to remember is that it was a Labour government that introduced the fees, a Labour government that commissioned the Browne Review that prompted the increase in fees, and it's Labour that are still fighting for a graduate tax."
Education is a right, not a privilege
Sam Coates, who is also a candidate for the 2011 Welsh Assembly elections, continued:
"The Green Party is now the only party with truly progressive policies on education, housing and the economy.
"Education is a right, not a privilege and the Greens are now the only party fighting for free university education, just as previous generations have received."
Labour's new membership offer, launched today, follows a move by the Green Party two weeks ago whereby everyone under 30 and students of any age can join the Greens for free, has so far attracted over 400 young people to join up to the Party (2).
Sam Coates concluded:
"Labour has refused to listen to the needs of students in the past, especially on issues such as housing, which have put young people through tough times even before the recession. It seems ironic that now they are out of government, they feel they can listen to our protests, while in government they felt the could ignore millions marching against the Iraq War."
Notes:
1. See http://www2.labour.org.uk/speakout.
2. Under 30s can join the Greens for free at http://www.greenparty.org.uk/joinforfree.html.