LABOUR will guarantee a job, training or further education place for every 18 to 24 year old as it seeks to continue to be in power at Glasgow City Council.

The party is due to launch its manifesto with a pledge to help young people prepare for the future one of its central themes.

Council leader, Frank McAveety, will launch the manifesto which he said will have young people and their future at its heart.

The party is seeking to hold on to power at the City Chambers and Mr McAveety said the key focuse of the campaign will be reducing inequality.

He said work is recognised as the best route out of poverty and over the next five years if returned to office the council will build on the Glasgow guarantee scheme which followed the Commonwealth Apprentice programme and offered a guaranteed place to all 16-19 year olds not in employment, education or training.

Mr McAveety said this guarantee goes further than that commitment.

He said: “We are absolutely committed to make further progress on the commitment to a guaranteed job, training place or education for every 18 to 24 year old.”

The former teacher said he doesn’t want to return to the days of children telling teachers they think there is no hope for them because all their family are out of work.

Mr McAveety, said: “The jobs guarantee, I just think that is what Glasgow is about. I was brought up believing that the best way to get people out of poverty and tackle inequality is to get people into work.

“That’s what I’m about. I was brought up in a family believing that hard work will get you rewards. I taught in schools in the 1980s in Glasgow when kids didn’t think they had a chance.

“So I’m proud to stand on a manifesto that say the work of this council, if you are 18 to 24, is going to be getting you a job or getting you an opportunity for getting into raining or a place at college.”

Labour said investing in getting people into work will ensure the city is successful too.

The manifesto will state: “Glasgow’s success is important because behind every job, every new business, every pay packet and every pound invested is a family with a wage packet, a neighbour getting back into work or a young person with an opportunity to get on in the world.”

Labour will contest every council ward with 43 candidates across the city. It will require everyone to be elected if it is to continue to hold power in a council which will increase in size to 85 councillors.