Proceeding contribution from Charles Walker (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 11 June 2009. It occurred during Debate on Social Mobility and the Professions.
Social Mobility and the Professions
I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention, and I totally agree with that philosophy. I should like to see more of it in this country. We cannot socially engineer a perfect solution; it is not within our gift in this place today. However, collectively—we can have robust and passionate disagreement, but we can also come together for this purpose—we can have the very highest aspirations for the young people of this country. I realise that we politicians are not in good odour, but I am so lucky, because in my constituency there is a wonderful young lady aged 16 who wrote to all the main political parties saying, "I'm interested in politics; I'd like to get involved," and, thank God, we were the first party to get back in touch with her. She is a truly remarkable young woman and she comes from a loving home. I do not call it a disadvantaged home; she just comes from a home where she has had fewer advantages than I had. She is a carer to members of her family, but despite that, was also Hertfordshire's volunteer of the year two years ago. She is the No. 1 academic performer in her school, a truly wonderful person who will go on to be twice if not three times the person I am. That is just fabulous. I want more people who have not had the advantages that Charles Walker has had to go on to be twice, three times and four times the person I am, and I want many of those people to live in my constituency. As I said a few moments ago, this is a truly uplifting debate. It may not be well attended, but I think that the people in the Public Gallery have walked in on something very special, and it has been a real honour to take part.
Secondary information
- Type
- Proceeding contribution
- Reference
- 493 c1010
- Session
- 2008-09
- Chamber / Committee
- House of Commons chamber
- Subjects
- Access Disadvantaged Finance Education Professions Public expenditure Universities Schools Training Young people Social class Social mobility
- Link
- View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk
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- 2024-04-21 11:53:53 +0100
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