May declares war on unpaid interns in new Cameron snub
THERESA MAY is set to ban unpaid internships as part of her mission to boost opportunities for working-class families.
In another break with the David Cameron era, Downing Street is understood to be considering forcing employers to pay at least the minimum wage to any school leaver or graduate in their offices.
Firms are swamped with applications for unpaid positions by young workers keen to boost their CVs with prestigious work experience, with the practice particularly widespread in politics and the City.
But the cost of living in cities, where most of the opportunities arise, means that the positions are disproportionately filled by those who can rely on wealthy parents to support them.
When David Cameron was Prime Minister, he blocked an attempt by his Coalition partner Nick Clegg to ban the practice, saying he was ‘very relaxed’ about giving work experience to personal acquaintances, including a neighbour. He admitted that he had himself enjoyed a ‘definite leg-up internship’ at his father’s stockbrokers.
On Friday, Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke will introduce a Commons’ Private Member’s Bill to ban the unpaid internships – although he has been warned by other MPs that they intend to ‘talk it out’ – make sure it is not passed because it runs out of debate time – as they rely on unpaid staff themselves to keep their offices running.
However, sources have indicated that the measure is likely to be introduced by the Government, making it much more likely to become law, in next year’s Queen’s Speech.
Unpaid internships are also widespread in the fashion industry.
Multi-millionaire designer Vivienne Westwood, who has campaigned on ‘fairness’ and ‘inequality’ with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is currently advertising for two five-days-aweek ‘volunteer internships’ starting in January.
Campaigners say that forcing employers to pay the minimum wage, currently £7.20 an hour, would open up opportunities to people from a much wider range of backgrounds. Only students on accredited degree courses would not be paid.
Earlier this month, Mrs May set up a Cabinet group of top Ministers to deliver on her pledge to ‘make Britain work for all, not just the rich’.
The Social Reform Cabinet will map out how to help with job insecurity, mortgage payments and school choices for ordinary working-class families, described by Mrs May as those ‘who work all hours to keep their heads above water’.
Mr Clegg tried to persuade Mr Cameron that plum internships should not go to people ‘because of who they know, rather than what they know’.
Mr Cameron responded: ‘In the modern world, of course you’re always going to have internships and interns – people who come and help in your office who come through all sorts of contacts, friendly, political, whatever.’
Last night Mr Shelbrooke said: ‘Unpaid internships are a scourge on social mobility. If we’re serious about building a Britain that works for everyone and not just the privileged few, then it’s time to end this exploitation of young workers.
‘It’s time to ban unpaid internships and make firms pay workers for their labour.’