THE Tories are “writing off” young people by failing to tackle the root causes of economic activity, Labour said yesterday, with those out of work due to “long-term sickness” doubling since 2010.

In its analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics, the party said that in 2010-11, there were 116,000 16 to 24-year-olds out of work or not looking for employment due to long-term sickness.

The figure for the whole of Britain is now 235,000.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said: “By neglecting the foundations needed for a healthy economy, the Tories are writing off hundreds of thousands of young people.”

The Labour MP said her party would ensure young people do not fall between the cracks between services and government departments.

It hopes that improving mental health services and ensuring schools have specialist professionals available, as well as reducing NHS waiting lists and strengthening workers’ rights, will help tackle the “root causes” of economic inactivity.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride have both sought to get people of all ages back into the workplace, in a bid to boost Britain’s workforce.

The proportion of people out of work has risen since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, but the issue is also seen to be caused by a broader set of factors including rising disability and long-term sickness levels.

A government spokesperson said it is driving down inactivity and helping young people into work, including by investing £2.3 billion into mental health services and supporting more 16 and 17-year-olds to participate in education and apprenticeships.