General Election 2024: How Labour's win could impact the children and young people’s sector

Starmer's party won by a majority of 412 seats, with the Conservative Party taking just 121 seats.

In its manifesto published ahead of polling day, the party included a raft of pledges for the children and young people’s sector.

Key promises include a £95mn investment in Young Futures Hubs, run by youth workers, mental health support workers, and careers advisers and designed to support young people’s mental health and reduce levels of children being drawn into crime. The policy was first announced by former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, who retained her seat in Pontefract.

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The children’s sector has welcomed the new government, but acknowledges that they must work hard to solve long-standing issues.

Andy Smith, president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said: “The new government has many urgent challenges to address. This must include the crisis in local government funding, growing pressures in children’s social care and the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system and huge challenges facing children’s mental health. Improving the outcomes and life chances of children and families must be the golden thread running through all government policy and departments and we need a national plan for childhood.”

Chair of the Local Government Association, Councillor Louise Gittins, said: “We are entering a period of huge change but also opportunity and my immediate priority is working with the new government on a fundamental reset of the relationship between central and local government, one of trust and mutual respect. 

“Councils are under pressure like never before, facing a funding gap of more than £6bn over the next two years. It is important we find a sustainable and long term financial solution, as well as the powers and levers required so we can deliver on the priorities of the new government.”

Gittins’ predecessor Shaun Davies stepped down today (5 July) as chair of the Local Government Association after being elected as MP for Telford – a seat previously held by the Conservatives.

Young people aged 16 and 17 will also be given the right to vote by the new government, if it adheres to its key manifesto pledges.

Oscar Bingham, UK Youth's acting director of research and impact, said: "In its manifesto, Labour recognised the importance of youth work and committed to expand access to this life-changing support, as well as to extend the right to vote to all 16 and 17-year-olds. Labour has also pledged to spend almost £300 million a year to deliver Young Futures Hubs, increase youth workers in A&Es and Pupil Referral Units and provide early support for mental health in schools.

"These measures, alongside Labour's guarantee of employment-focused support, can deliver huge benefits to young people and we hope will be a high priority for the new government. We look forward to working with ministers and officers to bring these promises to fruition. With more than a billion pounds a year cut from youth services in recent years, there is no time to lose."

Huge congratulations to @Keir_Starmer on becoming our next Prime Minister. One million children have spoken to me about what they need for a happy life - let’s work together to make this a reality.

— Dame Rachel de Souza (@Rachel_deSouza) July 5, 2024

Other key pledges include £175mn for mental health support and mental health professionals in every school.

Laura Bunt, chief executive of YoungMinds, said: “We welcome the new Prime Minister and look forward to him forming a government that has no time to waste in making changes for young people and their mental health.

“They have already made the positive step of committing to a full roll out of early mental health support hubs, but young people need much more. This government must be bold and brave – we need them to re-imagine the mental health system and tackle the things that make young people’s mental health worse.”

Dr Ruth Allen, chief executive of the British Association of Social Work, said: “We acknowledge that the new government faces significant challenges and will have desperately difficult decisions to make. However, the problems our profession and society face run deep, and requires bold and immediate actions to address. It really is time to get it right.”

Labour has also pledged to create 3,000 new nurseries in existing primary schools.

Neil Leitch chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: “We welcome today’s election result as an important opportunity for a fresh start, and look forward to working closely with the new government to support the meaningful action needed to ensure that our vital sector is able not just to survive, but to thrive,” but wants to see “wider plans to support the sector and safeguard its future, underpinned by increased early years funding and a comprehensive workforce strategy".

Meanwhile, former education secretary Gillian Keegan lost her seat in Parliament after a defeat in Chichester, with the Liberal Democrats winning by over 12,000 votes compared to the Conservatives.

Former children’s minister David Johnston lost his seat in Didcot and Wantage after a defeat of over 6,000 votes to the Liberal Democrats.