SOME of the country's most powerful politicians have responded in person to the plight of a North-East graduate left mired in debt and with 126 failed job applications to his name.

The Northern Echo this morning published an open letter by Gary Metcalfe, of Wheatley Hill, County Durham, to the political leaders on behalf of the thousands of young people struggling on the dole.

His simple message 'Don't forget about us'.

The 23-year-old, who recently got a part time job as a sales assistant in Next, is prepared to give up his dream of working in broadcast media despite gaining a good degree in the subject at Sunderland University.

However, as well as a degree he is saddled with £20,000 student debt and has been knocked back for 126 jobs.

In his letter he wrote: "I am finding it increasingly frustrating that none of the parties seem to represent - or even notice - many of the young people in similar situations to myself."

It certainly caused a stir - with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Labour's Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umuna together with UKIP leader Nigel Farage and the Green Party's North-East regional co-ordinator Shirley Ford all sending personal messages.

Conservative Chancellor George Osborne agreed to be interviewed on the issue in person by Nick Gullon, 22, of Yarm, who is in a very similar position. Despite gaining a first class degree in business studies at Teesside University is also still searching for work.

Here is how they responded:

  • George Osborne, Chancellor of the Conservative Party

The Northern Echo:

"We’ve brought youth unemployment dramatically down but, going forward, the job isn’t finished. We’re creating a northern powerhouse (to improve the economic fortunes of the North). There was an economic imbalance before we took office in which the south was growing faster than the north. 50,000 jobs had been lost in the North-East but we have created that number in his parliament.

"Now we have a compelling plan to create more apprenticeships and invest in the region, including a major investment at a new science and innovation centre at Newcastle University.

“We’ve taken a lot of people off the unemployment roles and that’s real economic security which could be put at risk with a weak Labour Government held hostage by the Scots Nats.

“Our political opponents in the Labour Party say some of the new jobs criticise some of the jobs we’ve created. However three-quarter of all new jobs are full-time and the number of people on zero-hour contracts is just two per cent of the workforce. We are creating good, strong jobs.”

  • Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal DemocratsThe Northern Echo:

"Dear Gary, I read your letter and I sympathise hugely with the efforts you're making. Please rest assured that you and others like you are not forgotten: the Lib Dems and I will do all we can to help you and other under 25s in the North-East realise your potential. The region and the UK as a whole must make greater use of your skills and strengths.

"The Liberal Democrats believe passionately in increasing opportunity for everyone, no matter where you live or what your background. To do this, we must tackle the scourge of youth unemployment and reduce it to an historic low.

"Employment in the North-East is increasing rapidly - the rise on last year is the largest of any region and twice the national average. Nationally, we've created two million more apprenticeships, two million new jobs, and reduced youth unemployment - but we know that there is still much more to do to achieve full employment. As you note, many young people are forced to consider moving to London or abroad for opportunities. We need to do more to create more opportunities in hard-hit areas like Wheatley Hill and the ex-mining villages of East Durham .

"We also understand that opportunity means more than a fulfilling and rewarding career. Our rent to buy scheme - built on the successful Genie scheme introduced by Gentoo in Sunderland - will give young people greater opportunity to get on the housing ladder by helping them with the deposit on their rented home and to build equity in their home through rent payments.

"I sincerely hope that you find the career opportunity you are looking for and that employers reading The Northern Echo take note and offer you the break you're seeking. I wish you the best of luck."

  • Chuka Umunna, Labour's Shadow Business SecretaryThe Northern Echo:

"Gary’s story is all too common for young people in the North-East and across the country. Too many young people feel that life is going to be harder for them then it was for their parents. There are still too many young people unemployed, stuck in low paid jobs or suffering the uncertainty of zero hours contracts.

"The cost of living crisis has hit young people particularly hard. For many, the dream of owning their own home is completely out of reach, while renting in the private sector can mean a choice between sub-standard accommodation and unaffordable levels of rent. It often leaves little choice but to remain at home with mum and dad.

"Labour offers a better plan for young people. For those out of work for over a year we will guarantee a job. We will have a new approach to education and training.

"We will guarantee apprenticeships for school leavers who want them and get the grades. And we’ll ease the burden of debt on young people going to university by cutting tuition fees to £6000 a year from 2016. We’ll also tackle the crisis in the housing market by getting 200,000 new homes built a year by 2020, with special measures to help first time buyers.

"We’ll also ban rip-off letting agent fees and give renters more security with longer tenancies. Exploitative zero-hours contracts have become emblematic of all that is wrong with increasingly insecure work. That's why we'll ban them.

"For the North-East to succeed everyone, including our young people, needs to succeed and Labour will ensure they do."

  • Shirley Ford, the Green Party's regional co-ordinator for the North-East  and parliamentary candidate for South Shields

The Northern Echo:

"Dear Gary, I really appreciate you writing your open letter expressing such frustration and desperation at being forgotten. Your situation is shared by so many young people that we have heard from in this campaign and indeed some of our candidates!

"The Green Party’s policies on jobs and social justice have attracted tens of thousands of young people to join us including right across the North-East. Our Youth Manifesto has been produced by the Young Greens and we are clear, we haven’t forgotten young people struggling on the dole or in part-time low paid jobs.

"One of our most important policies is to create one million jobs through our programme of green investment and restoring the public sector. These will be decent jobs, with a future and training – with a huge need for people like yourself with engineering knowledge. We need to super-insulate every home – to bring down people’s fuel bills, to tackle climate change and to create skilled jobs.

"We will also provide apprenticeships to all young people aged 16-25 who do not have one and want one. We will make the minimum wage a living wage for all, with a target of £10 an hour by 2020, and end exploitative zero hour contracts. We will help small businesses create jobs by reducing employers’ National Insurance.

"To tackle the high level of uncertainty that young people are facing, we must radically change the way our economy is seen. Instead of treating market forces as a law of nature and leaving the ‘casino economy’ unchecked, we must have a government that works to create a stable, resilient economy.

"As the parent of a 15-year-old, I am determined to work for the future of all young people in the North East, so that there are opportunities here. We can build a better world for the common good."

  • Nigel Farage, leader of UKIPThe Northern Echo:

"Your letter is a moving read on the last day before polls open. As you say your aspirations are shared by millions across the country. And I would agree with you that you have been let down. But no politician can sit here and wave a magic wand to fulfil your ambitions. In fact I suspect you would laugh at any attempt to make that sort of promise.

"But we can at least try to address the various problems. Firstly we have to recognise that with unskilled mass migration, the simple pressure of numbers keeps wages down, making for millions, the minimum wage into a functional maximum wage as large corporations and businesses across the spectrum maximise their profits by taking advantage of oversupply in the jobs market.

"By bringing down the number of immigrants we will see the power returning to the job seeker, rather than the employer.

"Then we have to address the skills shortage, and by dropping fees for studying the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths degrees will ensure that thousands will come out of University without crippling debt.

"We need to address the cost of living, particularly the cost of housing, and by supporting builders we will build 100,000 houses a year on brownfield sites. With a reduction in demand, again prices both to buy and to rent will drop.

"I take your point about the name worker or employee, but I am not sure that I share it. Employment is good, as is work and we would be wrong to look down our noses on work or feel it is beneath us.

"There is no quick fix to the problems you mention, but I believe that through a mixture of our policies UKIP at least are trying to address the problems in a realistic fashion."