Labour told 'act now' as more young people set to spend entire life on benefits

The Daily Express headline tells readers that more young people are set to spend their entire lives on benefits, a claim nothing in the article supports. The body reports a Liberal Democrat forecast of young people not in education, employment or training by 2031, says nothing about lifelong benefit claims, and in its own voice describes those young people as "doing nothing" although it later reports that nearly half are classed as disabled.

1. Headline goes beyond the article

   Serious

   “more young people set to spend entire life on benefits”

   Why this matters

   The Express headline states as fact that more young people are "set to spend entire life on benefits".

   The impression it gives

   A forecast shows a growing number of young people will claim benefits for their whole lives.

   The context

   The only forecast in the body is a Liberal Democrat projection that one in six young people will be not in education, employment or training by 2031. That is a status at one point in time, not a lifetime on benefits. No figure, study or speaker in the article mentions anyone spending an entire life on benefits.

   How we know

   • Elsewhere in the article“One in six young people are on course to be not in education, employment or training by 2031”
   • Elsewhere in the article“forecast an additional 280,000 young people would be affected over the next five years”

   Show it in the article

   Written straight

   Lib Dems urge ministers to act as their analysis says one in six young people could be out of work, education or training by 2031.

2. Uses a loaded word

   Minor

   “who are doing nothing”

   Why this matters

   In its own voice the Express describes the 981,000 young people outside work, education or training as "doing nothing".

   The impression it gives

   These young people are idle by choice.

   The context

   Being outside work, education or training does not mean doing nothing. The article itself reports that just under half are classed as disabled, and it quotes the Liberal Democrats describing them as "left in limbo" after nobody stepped in.

   How we know

   • Elsewhere in the article“Just under half (45.3%) of Neets have been classed as disabled”
   • Elsewhere in the article“left in limbo, not earning or learning”

3. Leaves out what changes the picture

   Minor

   What is missing

   The article presents Milburn's review only as a cut to benefits. It never reports that he plans to spend more money on employment support, or that the overall plan is reported to cost more, not less. Without this, a reader may take the reform to be a straight saving.

   How we know

   • Daily Mail reported“with more money spent on employment support”Labour revolt is ALREADY brewing as NEETs review calls for young people to be barred from claiming main sickness and disability benefits - but plan will cost taxpayers £6bn MORE (opens in a new tab)
   • The i Paper reported“an even higher benefits bill – even if just for the short term, to encourage young people into work”Benefits cuts are looming. And Labour MPs are already threatening to rebel (opens in a new tab)

   Show where it belongs