Minister denies Labour’s tax hikes behind youth unemployment

The Labour government’s £25bn hike in taxes paid by employers is not the main driver behind rising youth unemployment, a government minister told City AM . Baroness Jacqui Smith, the skills minister, said that changes in NICs and minimum wages have not been the main drivers behind a rise in unemployment rates for people under the age of 25. Speaking to City AM about funding for small businesses taking on apprentices, Smith argued that youth…