“Liberal Democrats welcome Labour’s support for Nick Clegg’s £1bn Youth Contract” Cllr Brendan Glynane

The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has welcomed a motion from the Labour group calling for more apprenticeships in Northamptonshire. Last Council meeting Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Lofts proposed a similar motion calling for an increase in apprenticeships supported through Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, which the Tories opposed.

Cllr Glynane said "In the last year of the Labour Government there were only 3600 apprenticeships created in Northamptonshire. Labour's motion calls for apprenticeships to be doubled in 18 months. In fact in 2011/12 alone, thanks to Nick Clegg's Youth Contract, the number of apprenticeships has almost doubled already to 6940!"

"We are pleased that after 13 years in Government Labour at last appear to recognise the importance of apprenticeships and what Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats in Government have achieved in almost doubling apprenticeships in Northamptonshire. We look forwards to working with them on this issue in the future."

"Obviously there is more work to do - that is why we proposed at the last meeting that the Council should increase the targets for apprenticeships set for Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership. Sadly the Conservatives did not support this call."