Greens would offer two-year jobs to unemployed under-24s

Young people would be offered a guaranteed two-year job within four months of leaving education or training, under a new proposal unveiled by the Green Party.

Announcing the policy at the party's conference in Brighton, co-deputy leader Mothin Ali said there were a million "bored, desperate and lost" young people who were out of work, training or education.

Under the proposed scheme, youngsters would be offered posts in the private sector, with the government paying half their salary.

Ali said an initial pilot scheme - rolled out in areas with the fewest job openings for young people - would create 9,000 jobs, at an overall cost of £110m.

The pilot would start in areas such as Rotherham, Ceredigion, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Broxtowe and South Staffordshire, with an ambition to roll it out nationwide.

The party said that a person not in work, education or training would cost the state an estimated £240,000 in benefits over the course of their lifetime.

It argued that its policy would reduce spending on welfare and boost tax receipts from employment.

Employers would be exempt from paying National Insurance contributions, but would have to provide in-job training, the party says.