Esther McVey told teenagers to get summer jobs and it did not go down well
Conservative MP and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Esther McVey stirred controversy online yesterday.
In an interview with The Telegraph, McVey suggested that teenagers take on summer jobs in order to get them ready for the workplace in later life.
In the article, McVey writes that a 'cultural shift' has seen teenagers move their attention from part-time jobs to education and training.
She believes that summer and weekend jobs help youngsters acclimatise to the workplace and gain vital experience and skills for the future.
The 50-year-old said:
As we enter this post-Brexit era, I want to make sure that young people are as prepared as ever for the workplace and I want to restore the merits that summer jobs can bring.
McVey launched her campaign at Centre Parcs in Sherwood Forest on Friday yet her comments haven't been received as well as she may have hoped.
Many feel that McVey has completely misjudged the current jobs market for teenagers and has no idea how difficult it can be to find a job of any kind in the current market.
Others questioned if McVey had ever actually worked a summer job.
The timing of McVey's statement also struck a nerve with some.
'Why would kids sacrifice their summers just to get a job?' was another popular topic.
This may have been the best suggestion to help McVey out of this current pickle.