'We've got to start telling kids hard work is good'

Nigel Farage calls for new 'spirit of optimism'

- Jonathan Walker

NIGEL Farage accused "miserable" Chancellor Rachel Reeves of being part of a pessimistic attitude which has made young people believe there is no point working - and has even stopped women having babies.

The Reform UK leader called for "some very big cultural changes" and a 180-degree shift in attitudes to convince youngsters that hard work and success was worth the effort.

Mr Farage spoke at the three-day Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in London, in which historians, writers and politicians take part in debates on the future of the West.

Advocating a new "spirit of optimism", he said yesterday: "Doesn't Rachel Reeves just make you want to reach for a tissue? It's all so miserable, it's all so declinist. We need a change of attitude in Britain."

Giving an example of the consequences, Mr Farage said a million young people were off work claiming to be suffering from depression.