Rishi Sunak promises to replace ‘rip-off degrees’ with 100,000 new apprenticeships
29.05.2024 - 08:15
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Rishi Sunak has pledged to create 100,000 more apprenticeships a year by shutting down “rip-off degrees” as he battles to remain in No 10.
The Prime Minister wants to see the worst-performing university courses replaced with high-skilled apprenticeships if the Conservatives stay in power after the General Election.
He said his party is offering young people “the employment opportunities and financial security they need to thrive” as he seeks to narrow Labour’s double-digit lead in the polls. Sir Keir Starmer’s party said the policy is “laughable” after the Tories “presided over a halving of apprenticeships for young people”.
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Labour is setting its sights on tackling NHS backlogs, with Sir Keir detailing first steps to clear waits of more than 18 weeks within five years of taking office.
The party is warning that the treatment backlog, which currently stands at 7.54 million, could rise to 10 million if the Conservatives are in office for another five years.
Measures Labour would take include creating an additional 40,000 appointments, scans and operations each week during evenings and weekends and doubling the numbers of scanners. Sir Keir pledged to “work with NHS staff” to put the health service “back on its feet”.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins criticised the plans as “more ‘copy and paste’ politics from Labour” while highlighting the Tories’ long-term workforce plan and £3.4 billion plan to upgrade NHS technology.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies said achieving Labour’s goal would be “highly stretching,” as “the challenging fiscal situation facing the next government will make it incredibly difficult to increase health spending