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Free childcare and money for poor to tackle class divide
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor13 Jan 2009
FREE childcare for deprived youngsters and new laws to narrow the gap between rich and poor were unveiled by ministers today as they vowed to end Britain's "class divide".
Gordon Brown was joined by several Cabinet ministers to launch a package of measures aimed at boosting social mobility and unlocking the talent of the most disadvantaged children.
The New Opportunities White Paper includes free nursery places for the poorest two-year-olds and a new legal duty requiring all public bodies to take background into account when delivering services.
All "high potential" children from low-income backgrounds will be given mentors and other help in secondary school to get them into university, with leading academics offering summer schools and placements.
To help children avoid poverty, "vulnerable" pregnant women will be given a dedicated family nurse for the first two years of their child's life. Some 35,000 new apprenticeships will also be created to help working-class teenagers secure skilled jobs.
The legal requirement for Whitehall departments and local councils to consider "the persistent inequality of social class" is expected to be tacked onto the Equalities Bill. This could mean poorer pupils having more spent on them and councils being forced to consider lotteries of school places. Currently, public sector bodies only have to take account of race, age, gender and disability.
In a speech this weekend, Equalities minister Harriet Harman will trumpet the move as a step towards "a new social order" in the UK. "We want to do more than just provide escape routes out of poverty for a talented few. We want to tackle the class divide," she will say.
The Prime Minister said: "Every generation can do better than the previous generation - that is what upward mobility is about. Measures we are announcing today are designed to do exactly that."
Cabinet Office Minister Liam Byrne said: "For 30 years after the Seventies social mobility did not move, but since 2000 the signs are that things are changing."
Tories shadow skills secretary David Willetts warned that legislating against the wealth gap was a "classic example" of Labour believing it could use laws to achieve its ends.
Reader views (21)
The Labour government destroyed the Grammar School system and in so doing denied bright children from ALL backgrounds to aspire to achieve their full potential. Perhaps we need an explanation of why there is this divide between State and Private education. All teachers are presumably qualified to the same standards, although of course some have more qualifications, so why do children do better in a private school. It may be because they are expected to apply themselves and are taught self discipline and are expected to achieve. This latest initiative will I am afraid not lead to upward mobility but will sink to the lowest common denominator.
- Patricia, LONDON, 14/01/2009 10:13
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Oh, great, that's just what we need, yet more encouragement for the great unwashed to breed! I reckon we need a dose of what China did: ban people from having more than one child. And for me that would be a compromise. I'd prefer to stop everyone breeding for, say, 5 years. Think how much better off the country would be then.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 14/01/2009 09:11
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
Winston Churchill.
- Roger, Surrey, 14/01/2009 08:51
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What planet is this Govenment living on. The whole counry is going down the pan, people losing jobs and homes. Who gives a toss about the scroungers in this country, they should get off their fat bums and better themselves like the rest of the hard working decent people have to do. Why invest in trash.
- Mary, england, 13/01/2009 21:59
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Why should we foot the bill for the uneducated to create families they cannot support?
Enforce would be parents to sit an aptitude test, those who fall way below certain standards, should they fail, send them back to school.
There needs to be a radical rethink on how we help the uneducated.
Knowledge is the key to success, success is the key to a self sufficient life.
- Simon Caleb, London, 13/01/2009 14:38
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Is it just me or are there others out that would like to send Ms Harperson down a mine and the cap the enterance? With everything else that is going on in this country that needs attention you would think that this would be at the bottom of the pile of things to do. Do the right thing and call an election!!
- Mike, Croydon, 13/01/2009 14:37
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Until the govenrment stop or make it harder for the rich /investors to buy up all the property (forcing people to rent and pushing up prices) the gap will never close. And also they should stop encouraging the gambling culture to gain more tax revenues as this entraps the least well off even more so. Free child care? well that will encourage the poor/immigrants to have even more sprogs to drain the system....
- Dc, London, 13/01/2009 14:27
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You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative & independence.
You cannot help people by doing for them what they could & should do for themselves.
Abraham Lincoln
- Joe, London, 13/01/2009 14:01
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Class will presumably be verified on production of a Labour Party membership card
- Jim, London, 13/01/2009 13:55
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So what's my class then? I now work in the City, have a first degree and a masters but my parents are a taxi driver and a shop assistant and the 6 of us (including my three sisters) grew up in a working class household. When I tell people I am working class, they say I'm not due to my (state) education and my current job. When people tell me I'm middle class, I say what about working class childhood and background? And what about immigrants? How do they fit into the class system? P.S. In addition to my parents determination to improve our lot, the one thing that got where I am today were great teachers and a great education available to all when I was girl.
- Mikki, London, 13/01/2009 13:45
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Drivel!! If all the money was divided equally among all residents of the UK,in 12 months time the entrepreneurs would have made a profit and the lay-abouts would be walking around demanding hand-outs to live. A Labour government would tax those working to fund the idle. There is always a need for Socialist principles to check the successful and dumb everything down.
- Roy G, Solihull, ENGLAND, 13/01/2009 13:39
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"Harriet" is quite a posh name, why change it to "Kerry" or "Chardinay" (sp) to do your bit to tighten the class divide. While you're at it, give up your ministerial salery and sign on. I am sre that will help you reach your enlightened goals.
- Ben, London, W1, 13/01/2009 13:31
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Presumably, Ms Harman does not feel that her sending of her own son to a highly selective Grammar School, and her own daughter to an exclusive private school, has anything to do with entrenching privilege?
One thing is for sure, though - no one with so lightweight an intellect as Harman's would ever have risen to her position without her elite background.
- Liz, London,UK, 13/01/2009 13:10
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Everyone will be equal, but, there will still be politicians who will be more equal than others.
- John W, billericay essex, 13/01/2009 12:53
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Don't we have other priorities than live in la la land!?
- Peteo, London, NW1, 13/01/2009 12:46
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Seems like labours social engineering is working, everyone is becoming poor.
- Tom, Watford (UK), 13/01/2009 12:14
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I'm sorry but this woman and indeed her entire party really do spout some utter drivel.
Social engineering I'm sure is something both the Communists and the Nazis tried.
- Pete, Leigh On Sea, 13/01/2009 12:02
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Social engineering at it's best, shows how desperately Labour are trying to grab votes. An election year I wonder?
I assume Ms Harpy Harman will stand aside, given her privileged up bringing, and hand her job over to someone from a less privileged background.
All animals are equal etc, etc.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 13/01/2009 11:19
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More social-engineering claptrap from this discredited lightweight.
- Keith Price, Luton, 13/01/2009 11:14
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Right. Ok now can we work and get over the UK recession first perhaps?
- Georgie, Islington, London, 13/01/2009 11:05
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Come on, waste some more of my money on "transforming" the country.
Lower some more standards, and claim an empty victory for bringing them down to the lowest denominator.
Bring on the election. Bye bye Nu-Labour.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 13/01/2009 10:28
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