James Kanagasooriam’s recent analysis is powerful, but the suggested solutions are less sure. Simply offering what younger voters want won’t work.
“People need the opportunity to benefit from their ability, their determination, and their hard-work.”
Shifting the focus to FE is not only the right thing to do, but would send a powerful message.
The description is misleading, and will deter young people from entering the sector. Ultimately, it will constrain the labour supply needed to build more houses.
Plus: Unsung Conservative heroes. The Centre for Rocket Studies. And: why do we need the traditional, three-year University course?
We have a habit of looking back at policy platforms pursued by previous Conservative Governments, and attempting to bring back popular policies like a poor Hollywood remake.
Great effort goes to attract the best school-leavers. If only the same energy went into ensuring that their graduate alumni are actually prepared for the world of work.
During this Budget run-up, many of those I met raised business rates as a killer, plus council tax, the apprenticeship levy, parking charges and corporation tax, too.
Levels of trust between Numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street may be low, but the latter holds the key to helping create an economy and society that works for everyone.
Plus: The train of communism stalls but the train of conservatism stutters. And: Tackling Burning Injustices does not mean taxing milkshakes.
The old, with their savings, could help the young. The economically active young could help the old, by giving them an income.
The Government must act now, or risk a generation of school leavers missing out on the opportunity to acquire technical skills.
We must change our organisation, making it more democratic, accessible for the lower paid and a place in which the most disadvantaged can feel at home.
They need time and resources spent on preparing them for employment and for life – and for their Government to adapt as quickly as they are doing.
The new Office for Students must lead in this. There must be sanctions from the new regulator for those universities who are failing in this regard.