Jeremy Corbyn calls on government to “end the Brexit uncertainty and back Labour’s credible alternative plan”
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Speaking at the EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation’s conference
in London on Tuesday, Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn,
will call on the government to “end the Brexit uncertainty and back
Labour’s credible alternative plan”. He will also announce a
commission on lifelong learning to develop Labour’s policy of free
education from cradle to grave. Corbyn will declare that a
“great legacy of the next Labour government” will be...Request free trial
Speaking at the EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation’s conference in London on Tuesday, Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, will call on the government to “end the Brexit uncertainty and back Labour’s credible alternative plan”.
He will also announce a commission on lifelong learning to develop Labour’s policy of free education from cradle to grave.
Corbyn will declare that a “great legacy of the next Labour government” will be the creation of a National Education Service “that makes education freely available to everyone, whatever their age, from cradle to grave, just like the NHS is there for all of us.”
The Labour leader will underline his commitment to “genuine parity” between vocational and academic education.
Jeremy Corbyn will tell the business delegates that Labour’s enormous expansion of education, through colleges, universities and trade unions must be coupled with additional investment by business in training and development, saying employers must “step up to invest” in their workforces too.
Calling on the government to back Labour’s credible alternative plan, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, will say:
Earlier this month I wrote to the Prime Minister laying out Labour’s alternative Brexit plan, based around a permanent customs union with a British say in future trade deals, a strong relationship with the single market and full guarantees on workers' rights, consumer standards and environmental protections. Later this week I will travel to Brussels to discuss it with Michel Barnier and others. It’s a plan that could win the support of parliament and help bring the country together. It has been widely welcomed as a way of breaking the impasse. So I call on the government and MPs across parliament to end the Brexit uncertainty and back Labour’s credible alternative plan.
Announcing Labour’s Lifelong Learning Commission, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, will say:
I am proud to announce the appointment of our Commission on Lifelong Learning to help make the principle of lifelong learning a reality.
The Commission will bring together 14 experts from across education, top names in their fields, including the EEF’s very own Chief Economist Seamus Nevin. It is co-chaired by the former Education Secretary, Estelle Morris and the General Secretary of the Communication Workers’ Union, Dave Ward.
Its task is to devise an inclusive system of adult education to be implemented by the next Labour government that will transform the lives of millions and reskill our economy. Lifelong learning will be available to everyone no matter their background, employment status, or previous education.
The Commission will make detailed proposals on how to integrate qualifications, introduce a credits system to make qualifications transferable and make it as easy as possible for people to pick up or pause their studies at times that work for them.
There is no rationale for people only being educated for the first quarter of their lives and then expected to work for the rest of their days with outdated or insufficient qualifications. It’s a waste of talent and a waste of potential. Let’s give people the skills to flourish.
On genuine parity between vocational and academic education, Jeremy Corbyn will say:
I strongly believe there should be genuine parity between vocational and academic education. We have to end the outdated grammar school mentality of looking down on somebody who does a vocational course and looking up to somebody who does an academic course. I see the skills of electrical work, of computer work, of design work learned through vocational courses, as just as valuable as academic courses at a university.
We need all of those skills in our society.
I remember from my own school days being told by my art teacher, who didn’t appreciate some of my more abstract painting, “You’re no good at art, you can do woodwork instead”, as if woodwork was inferior. In Germany, where they really value engineering, they say “You’re a clever kid, get down the metal workshop.’’
So education must be designed to get the best out of everybody and available to all delivered through colleges, universities, trades unions and directly via employers.
If a Labour government is going to make this big investment in skills that will have benefits for business, then we do ask something in return: that as employers step up to invest in your workforce too.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The report of the Commission will: 1. Define and set out the need for a system of lifelong learning that will support individuals, communities, and our economy, locally, regionally, and nationally, and the essential role this will have a National Education Service; 2. Develop the policies on further education and lifelong learning from Labour’s 2017 General Election manifesto and amendments to the Higher Education and Research Bill, and also produce:
The Commission will operate independently, but with regular input from Angela Rayner, the Shadow Education Secretary, and Gordon Marsden as the Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, and Skills. There will be regular liaison with the Leader of the Opposition throughout this process, reporting back to Jeremy Corbyn before the publication of the final report.
Membership of Independent Advisory Panel Co-Chairs – Estelle Morris and Dave Ward (CWU) Graeme Atherton – Director of the National Education Opportunities Network Joyce Black – Assistant Director, R&D, Learning and Work Institute Amatey Doku – Vice President Higher Education, National Union of Students Kirstie Donnelly – Managing Director, City and Guilds Vicky Duckworth – Professor in Education, Edge Hill University Alison Fuller – Professor - Vocational Education and Work, UCL Ewart Keep – Director of Centre for Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance, Oxford University Mary Kellett – Vice Chancellor, Open University David Latchman – Master of Birkbeck Seamus Nevin – Chief Economist, EEF Dave Phoenix – Vice Chancellor, London South Bank University Carole Stott – Former Chair of the Board and Trust, Association of Colleges Matt Waddup – National Head Of Policy & Campaigns – University and College Union Tom Wilson – Chair of UFI, Former Head of Unionlearn |