London revealed as UK ‘internships capital’ as MP seeks end to system

London was today declared Britain’s centre for unpaid internships — with MPs claiming the “unfair” system is preventing talented youngsters from reaching their potential.

Up to 81 per cent of all unpaid law internships are at firms in the capital and 61 per cent of PR jobs young people are being asked to do for free are also in the city, according to the campaign group InternAware.

Their research found that the vast majority of internships are located in London, and the Sutton Trust found that interns are out of pocket by £1,000 a month while trying to support themselves.

MPs will hold their first debate on the issue tomorrow and Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke will say that if Theresa May is committed to her promise of helping “not just the privileged few” she will back legislation to outlaw the practice.

“It is costing a young person £926 a month to do these internships and 40 per cent are turning them down because they just can’t afford to do them,” he said.

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