Burnham says Gen Z has it harder than boomers as panel warns of intergenerational theft

Andy Burnham has backed the view that Generation Z faces a tougher life than baby boomers. In a clip played during a late-night news discussion, the presenter said Burnham "strongly agrees" that Gen Z has life harder than boomers. The exchange then moved to a studio panel on intergenerational inequality.

Bill Rammell said the last 20 years had seen "intergenerational theft". He argued that pensioners like him had been protected "every turn" while younger people faced rising housing costs, university fees and other changes. He concluded that Gen Z had got it much tougher than his generation.

A second panelist warned of a wider political consequence. They said people will only believe in capitalism and democracy if they have a stake in the system. If they cannot buy a house or get a meaningful job that pays well, they may ask what the purpose is of defending Western capitalist democracy, the panelist said. They added that many young people were drifting to the far left.

A third contributor agreed that boomers had a "particularly gifted time". They said the generation was born too young to be stuck in the Second World War and did not have to actively engage in the Cold War beyond fearing a large foe. They retired with large houses and pensions, the panelist said, and were now gatekeeping those benefits by opposing new housing and holding on to pension funds. The same contributor said boomers vote in their own interest, as all people do. The panel also heard that economic growth should lift all ships, but when it does not, groups end up fighting over a shrinking pie.