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My thoughts on economic growth and education in one place, since it's part of the topic of the day. tomforth.co.uk/graduateprem...

tomforth.co.ukBritish Growth and the Graduate PremiumBritain's economic problems will not be solved by more graduates.

Tom Forth

@tomforth.co.uk

28 July

There was a lot of consensus that skills, above other things, would deliver growth for Britain. We did really well, across parties, consistently, for three decades on this. Kids can read. Graduate share boomed. And it largely didn't work at growing our economy. tomforth.co.uk/humancapital/

tomforth.co.ukFocusing on Human Capital has failed to level up Britain.Focusing on Human Capital has failed to level up Britain. We should change course.

Tom Forth

@tomforth.co.uk

29 July

A few quotes and some data from me on this topic here. 38% of jobs in Oxfordshire are available to those with no and low qualifications. 51% of jobs in Teesside are. Shouldn't we give people the freedom to choose what works for them and their place? inews.co.uk/news/educati...

inews.co.ukThe areas that could be left behind by Burnham's education reformsThe Prime Minister says technical pathways will help cut youth unemployment – but critics fear they will worsen inequality

Tom Forth

@tomforth.co.uk

A lot of people really won't like it. "Soft bigotry of low expectations" stuff. And I somewhat agree. It is a tragedy if a bright kid in Middlesbrough doesn't know about the jobs they could get with more and harder study. Or feels that those jobs somehow "aren't for them".

29/7/26, 5:12 pm0 reposts0 likes

Tom Forth

@tomforth.co.uk

29 July

So we've got to avoid that. But at the same time, I think it's a shame if we're telling kids in places like East Yorkshire like a lot of my friends growing up that the world is their lobster and if they study more and harder there'll be well paid jobs for them. There may not be.

Tom Forth

@tomforth.co.uk

29 July

And I do think we believed that, and said that, and encouraged that belief among quite a lot of my friends growing up. And unfortunately, for lots of reasons we can't agree on, the well paid jobs we thought would materialise just didn't, outside of South East England and Scotland.