All those unavailable youngsters encouraged to go to university may have a lot to do with it. No apprenticeships, just figures and as quick as Tony, Gordon, Alastair and Peter could manipulate them, I mean show them. People here have been let down unless you’re a well above average for income in your area.

COYP

We created the need. Well done. You’re getting there. By we, I mean the country. Well actually the Labour government. Companies didn’t help, but there could’ve been incentives.

And Labour did encourage East Europeans over here. It takes some believing. Ignore the working classes, encourage 50% into university. For what purpose nobody knows, but he still thinks it’s credible.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (26 Apr 2022 6.55am)

COYP

We can control who enters this country if we are motivated enough.
The idea that we can't is absurd. Right now we are being thwarted by man made laws and conventions. They can be changed.

Don't tell me it can't be done. That is claptrap. You are a defeatist, and worse, an advocate, and that makes you complicit in the destruction of this country.

Uni is a great place to read Marx, wear black clothes with blue hair, and learn to throw rocks at people with opinions different to yourself. Learn the importance of crying to get the things you want.

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford

The problem with Universities these days is that they are no longer institutions for further educating those who warrant that commitment.

I'm still quite young, and enjoyed reasonable academic success (through nature must be said, I was always committedly lazy) however I had no shortage of 'thick' mates, much as I love them... somewhat inevitable growing up in Lewisham.

I'd suggest about 10% went to prison, 10% went to prison for substantial periods of time with a number still there, about 40% found reasonable work and shockingly about 40% went to University.

A lot of those who went to Uni had about the same cerebral capacity as those who found work by the age of 18/19/20. The ones who found work all seem to be homeowners now with reasonable wages etc. Those that went to Uni, in their main, show no signs of intellectualism, are still paying off debts, have ludicrous jobs in fields/roles they have been led to believe they belong in, but know deep down they do not, and earn barely livable wages to sustain their disillusionment with 'adulthood'. A few still even live at home (late 20s/early 30's).

It's no wonder anybody may be under the impression we need to import the likes of skilled labourers, a seriously undervalued necessity in society, from anywhere and everywhere. In the meantime, we'll still work hard on figuring out what value degrees actually hold when the likes of being somewhat literate is supposedly now a sufficient barometer to warrant a loan of tens of thousands of pounds to study 'English Literature' before moving on to work part time behind a bar or become a 'personal trainer' etc.

Talent schemes, such as apprenticeships, should really be the way forward for this nation. I'm glad that a diversity push has paved the way for many to now be able to go in to further education but let's not conflate this with the issue of providing people with an ends to justify those means. Should anything stop you from entering University and furthering your education, only one IMHO, if you are not able to utilise the opportunity to benefit the overall economy and yourself in later life. It shouldn't be painted as some sort of given for anyone who 'fancies it'.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Stange sort of plan by elites and big business then - impoverish people so that they will be unable to buy the products of business.