Labour has branded 3,200 young people in Sheffield “deadweight” amid plans to scrap vital apprenticeships.

Liberal Democrats have overseen the creation of 1.6m apprenticeships since 2010, which is the largest expansion since the 1950s.

But Labour has suggested 59% of apprenticeships starting in Sheffield could be cut if they were in government.

A Labour policy review paper said Intermediate Apprenticeships (level two) are “of no value to either employers or learners”, while it also claimed scrapping them “would minimise deadweight”.

Nick Clegg MP said:

“To call apprentices ‘deadweight’ is an insult to young people in Sheffield who are learning valuable skills to get ahead in life. This plan would make it harder for young people to find good, well-paid jobs and damage the skills base in the British economy.”

Sheffield Hallam MP and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg MP revealed Labour’s plan to cut 500,000 apprentices at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.

He pointed out how Labour proposed scrapping level two apprenticeships before introducing a downgraded traineeship.

In Sheffield’s six parliamentary constituencies there are 5,450 apprentices, with 3,200 on level two schemes.

Nick Clegg MP added:

“Sheffield is the best performing city in England when it comes to the proportion of our young people in apprenticeship posts. Labour’s plan would wreck this proud achievement. This is the strongest signal yet that Labour can’t be trusted to build a stronger economy.”