Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband, 37, was speaking ahead of the publication later this week of a Government review of youth services, expected to call for them to be expanded for the first time in 50 years.

Mr Miliband - a supporter of votes at 16 - said that most young people want to "do the right thing," but often there are no safe and decent places for them to go to keep off the streets.

He told The Guardian: "I think one of the things we have to do as a Government is talk about young people in a much more positive fashion.

"We have to give a much more accurate impression of the vast majority of young people who do the right thing in society, and want to make the most of themselves, and not to give the impression that most young people are about to commit acts of anti-social behaviour."

Despite agreement among most MPs that "there are not enough safe, good places for young people to go to", the priority given to youth services has declined steadily since the 1960s under governments of both main parties, he said. Average local authority spending is just £27 per young person per year.

"Good youth services can expand people's horizons, but we have not invested in youth services for 40 years. It has never been a top priority," said Mr Miliband.

He stressed that he was not calling for the Government to drop its Respect agenda or measures such as anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos).