Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the Government’s refusal to reaffirm their 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 pledge, said:

“By refusing to back their own three million target, the Government has finally admitted that their handling of apprenticeships is failing.

“Time and time again Labour told Ministers that the target was a mistake. Now that they have accepted their mistake they need to focus on delivering high-quality apprenticeships instead of chasing arbitrary numbers.

“While the Government’s flagship further and technical education policy is now in tatters, it is young people across our country who are paying the price for the Government’s failure.”