Take these examples of the Government's failure to do anything but dash the hope and expectations of 1997:
- Although only 7% of the population attend public schools, well over half of many professionals have done so. Including 75% of judges, 70% of finance directors, 45% of top Civil Servants and over 50% of solicitors
- There have been substantial declines in social mobility in journalism and accountancy
- "The overall trend is clear: the professions have become more, not less exclusive over time. Despite a sharp growth in professional employment opportunities in recent decades, access to the professions is becoming the preserve of those from a smaller and smaller part of the social spectrum."
I don't normally agree with Polly Toynbee, but I though she was right on the money yesterday when she argued that, "on Labour's watch, class has become more rigid, destiny for most babies is decided at birth, and the incomes of rich and poor families have drawn further apart."
This is an utterly unnaceptable situation and a scandalous betrayal of the working class voters who placed so much faith in Labour twelve years ago.
We need radical and far reaching reform to ensure that the career open to talent is more than just a slogan. The fact that, in so many cases, life chances are decided at birth is simply wrong. Declining social mobility is a grotesque scandal and is one of the most severe and urgent problems facing our country.
If elected, I will work unstintingly to ensure that priority is given to policies aimed at improving social mobility. I will work to ensure that the advantages of birth play an ever diminishing role in British life. The Government have had twelve years to turn the situation round. It is now time for the failed Labour establishment in the North East to step aside for those of us with the ideas and determination to create a new wave of social mobility.
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