Neglect is a political choice, and one with deep human consequences.

That is what has struck me in the early months as secretary of state for work and pensions. Graph after graph, slide after slide, all pointing upwards, on young people out of work, on mental health issues among the population, and on the decision by default as much as design that the response should be benefits rather than changing lives.

Is this response good enough? It can keep body and soul together but it doesn’t change lives. People don’t live in a spreadsheet. There are human consequences to growing youth inactivity as well as financial ones. The number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) grew by almost 50% between 2021 and 2024. The proportion is highest in the north-east and north-west of England, followed by the East and West Midlands, and those citing sickness and mental health problems has increased by 76% since 2019. Doing nothing would be to continue the pattern.

Former John Lewis chair Charlie Mayfield – who headed our

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