Commenting on Labour candidate Ken Livingstone’s proposals to reinstate the Educational Maintenance Allowance if elected, Green Party candidate Jenny Jones said:
"By cutting the Education Maintenance Allowance, the government essentially told thousands of disadvantaged children in London to forget about education and their aspirations.
"Restoring the EMA would open the door for many young Londoners to pursue education, help develop the capital’s skills and sense of innovation as well as help foster greater harmony among London’s communities.
"Our forthcoming manifesto reaffirms our party’s opposition to tuition fees and cuts to EMA and university grants. I have also pledged to create at least 150,000 high-quality apprenticeships aimed at young people under 25 if elected Mayor.
"Restoring the EMA sounds like a good plan, if the money really can be found. Just like Ken, I have no problem borrowing other people’s ideas when they’re good ones."
