LABOUR will launch a consultation today on establishing a statutory youth service and restoring decimated funding after a prominent knife-crime charity raised concerns over government cuts.

Shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs Cat Smith will be attending a summit to listen to charities and trade unions’ views on plans that will require every council to provide teenagers and children access to youth services and facilities.

As councils have struggled to cope with central government funding cuts of 40 per cent, services for young people have received a real-terms cut of £765 million between 2011-12 and 2017-18, according to Labour’s analysis, and there is no obligation for councils to provide such services.