PJ
you're not too discerning are you?

Why is Labour's generation unfit and unprepared for the world of work?

I should point out that the last time it peaked was '94 after 14 years of a Tory Govt so they were also responsible for a 'lost generation', and these are the parents of our present generation.
The point about a lack of a work ethic is well made, and also that the world doesn't owe Britain a living.
We should have kept the Polytechnics as Centres of Applied Sciences and Engineering and developed them like the Germans did, with their Tech Schools and Tech Colleges.
Balls was wrong to say what he did, if he did; that girl should have been the responsibility of her parents, not the State.
I've said before that kids aren't even mature and responsible at 16, let alone 18. Its a pity we don't raise the age of majority back to 21. Until then they should be the responsibility of their parents.

Dont panic everyone!, Grayling`s just been on the TV and he`s assured us it`s not his, Gideons, or Flashmans fault?, it`s all those nasty europeans fault!!, PHEW!!, funny that, wasn`t it this high under a previous Tory govt?, nice to see a govt that cares?, unfortunately it`s not this one!!.

I don't why Stu is contributing, he is clueless when it comes to facts.

The poor dear talked about a " Massive Rise in unemployment " under Labour, during the " Boom " years, yet unemployment rose under Labour in 2007.

How could someone be so badly misinformed?

@Bill Fraser
Ummmmm blatent lies are not a debate.

In 1986 under the Tories the number 0f 18-24 year olds claiming benefit was a million. Under Tory Governments this never dropped below 400k.

From 1997 under Labour this figure dropped to a fairly steady 250k until 2008 and the credit crunch when it rose to 500k.

NET MIGRATION 250,000. ANARCHY AND CIVIL WAR IN THE MAKING.

WELL DONE, THAT MAN,
The statement, should have used the correct spelling, EUPHEMISM,

Its the substitution of a 'mild inoffensive phrase',

for a more direct, statement, that might 'give-offense'.

For example, I did not ask the question,

HOW MANY ACTUALLY WORKING HOURS DO THE TEACHING PROFESSION WORK FOR THEIR LONG-HOLIDAYS (and the so called hard-working-teachers who do 'overtime'are in a small minority')

The answer, is between 800 and 900 working hours, with pensions,sick-pay,benefits that would make an Italian 'drool',

When the majority of 'office-workers' in a business or workers in a 'wealth-producing-factory' work

2,000+ hours for LESS RECOMPENSE

AND they are NEVER called on to account for the unsatisfactory way our children are being educated.

ACTUAL BAD teachers, CANNOT EVEN BE SACKED, for their incompetance.

The Greeks stated, 2,500years ago, THOSE WHOM THE GODS WISH TO DESTROY, THEY FIRST MAKE INSANE.

Is there any other description of the present situation in Britain.

The theory was flooding the country with immigrants made everyone better off?

@ bsmall 12.45,

The teaching profession is open to anyone, if you're envious of the lifestyle of a teacher, change career.

But more importantly, teachers are the most important 'wealth' creators in today's age. Anyone with even a modest education would understand that. After all, at current student:teacher ratios in England the average primary school teacher will educate 20 individuals a year. Show me an office worker that contributes as much to the nation's long term economic well being and I'll show you someone that had a good teacher.

OH DEAR!!, it looks like the Right Wing Xenaphobes are trying to take over this debate!!.

@Stu 13.27,

Assuming that this young chap was on a modest wage, he will probably have paid back 40% of his wages to the state in income tax,NI and VAT, and the other 60% will no doubt have found its way into the UK private sector, who are then taxed heavily by the state. Of course you might prefer the government to have spent £40k per year holding this chap in prison for his obvious ineptitude.

All I'm saying is that your's was not the choiciest illustration of your point. Tourism in the UK contributes close to £100bn per year to GDP, and this fellow had a chance to contribute something to that figure, although he clearly lacked the initiative and creativity to use the opportunity offered to him. The real problem was not the job, it was the individual.

well swanny, the problem with your statement, is that it is PATENTLY-UNTRUE.

There was a time, when your statement, THAT TEACHERS CREATED WEALTH, was a factual reality.

THEN it was called a PROFESSION', and teachers were held high in the esteem of their fellow citizens.

NOW IT IS A JOB, A UNIONIZED JOB, WHOSE OVERPAID UNION LEADERS, born, raised and 'radicalized' in the 1960's,

THE AVERAGE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER WILL EDUCATE 20 INDIVIDUALS A YEAR, what sort of Orwellian-newspeak is that.

The problem IS, that the results of their OVERPAID-JOB', (notice no-one is denying my statement of OVERPAID UNDER ACHIEVING people who have never had a 'real-job', and have no-idea what 'a decent day's work for a fair wage'really means)

the liberal/socialist 'dogma' that more overpaid teachers, per pupil, means ' BETTER EDUCATED PUPILS'.

Is just plain demonstrable rubbish.

Have a look at what is going on in the 'LOWER 80%' of schools,

did the blaire/brown cabal educate THEIR children, AMONG THE CHILDREN THAT THEIR LIBERAL/SOCIALIST POLICIES have dumped on society.

HAVE A LOOK AT THE 'BEST-SCHOOLS' that is those WHERE THE HOUSING MARKET IS DISTORTED BY THE 'WELL-OFF' going to live where those schools are.

THEN have a look at the STAFF AND HEAD-TEACHERS, there, the insistance on 'polite-behaviour', respect for them selves and others, as well as the 3 R's.

WE were taught these values, with 35 pupils/teacher ratio, we were EXPECTED TO BECOME USEFUL CITIZENS to enable GREAT BRITAIN to succeed

Only a very few went to the JOB-CREATIONARY 'UNIVERSITY'S, and THEY had to work and qualify.

SWANNEEE, I have watched, THE EFFECTS ON THE NATIONS LONG-TERM ECONOMIC WELL-BEING, for 55years.

AND THOSE ACTUAL EFFECTS, as opposed to the illusionary -ones in your 'dream-world',

Are absolutely catastrophic. There has NEVER been such a large proportion of the under-25's, who are actually 'useless' like 'drones in a bee-hive

As for envying the TEACHERS-JOB, I think NOT.

AND ITS FALSE TO CLAIM, ANYONE CAN GET A TEACHERS JOB,

firstly the paper-qualified useless communicators straight from their own paper education, ARE THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND.

secondly, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE CHIMERICAL-QUALIFICATIONS, OR YOU ARE A 'WHITE-MALE'

The job-doors are closed against you.

I traveled the world, as a PROBLEM-SOLVING MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I was the go-to guy, when 'stuff' didn't work.

I DID produce 'saleable-wealth' and helped others to do the same.

DON'T THINK THAT YOU, BRITS, ARE THE ONLY ONES WITH a system producing useless unemployable youth,

Canada,America and the other ENGLISH speaking countries,

have exactly the same broken public educational systems

For very much the same reasons,

A UNIONIZED-OVER-PROTECTED BUNCH OF TEACHERS, WITH MORE 'CHIEFS THAN INDIANS',

Ms McCleary, has the VERY-NUB of the problem,

BUT its the 'subject that dare not speak it's name',

ps, dear des, othello had a view of you, and your empty head.

don't bother abusing me, YOU LIKE OTHERS, LIVE TO YOUR DREAMS

and the tax-payers fund them

@Joe,
I understand where you're coming from but it's not all about how the individual capitalises on the opportunity given to him/her but also how they are encouraged, trained and if need be mentored too.

@matty,
I retract my statement