Labour accused of hypocrisy

A LIB-DEM councillor has hit out at Oldham’s Labour Cabinet over its recent criticism of the Government’s ending of the wage-incentive element of the youth contract.

Councillor Garth Harkness challenged criticisms made by Councillor Shoab Akhtar during last week’s Cabinet meeting over the withdrawal of government funding for the youth training programme.

Councillor Akhtar had blasted the Government for withdrawing funding for the Youth Contract Wage Incentive Scheme earlier than expected.

The Cabinet agreed to cover the shortfall by committing £182,000 to the scheme. But Councillor Harkness argued that the Youth Contract was cut short by a month - and hadn’t been abruptly withdrawn, as had been suggested.

The wage incentive element will run until the end of the current financial year and was always intended to be a three-year project. “The Government has simply brought the cut-off date for new starters forward by one month, to August from September,” said the councillor.

Councillor Harkness added: “Whatever the shortcomings of this element of the scheme, this council has managed to draw down £123,000 in wage subsidies from the Government. Once more Labour shows its breathtaking hypocrisy in criticising the youth contract all the way, yet is happy to take the money and then take credit.”