Young progressives Articles

The altitude of growth and unemployment, according to received economic wisdom, are inversely related. When one falls, the other rises. So recent drops in the number of people looking for work, while the UK officially remains in recession, have left analysts scratching their heads. When the Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimant count rose by well over 100,000 a month in early 2009, the prospect of a return to over three million unemployed was very real.

Just as every good folk story needs a hero, villain and a dame, so does a strong campaign. And so the spirit of Robin Hood is invoked today by a coalition of leading NGOs and trade unions to put banks at the centre of tackling poverty and injustice. But who will play the roles of Robin Hood, the Sheriff, Little John?

Whenever you meet a parent who uses a Sure Start Children’s Centre, they almost always fizz with enthusiasm about the support they have felt, services they have received and the staff that have been a vital source of advice. To these parents Sure Start Children’s Centres are becoming as central a part of the local public service infrastructure as GPs or primary schools. Yet so often what public debate there is about Sure Start still questions its achievements and value for money. We want parents’ voices to be heard and that is why we have launched a campaign today called ‘shout out for a sure start’.

The last PMQs before recess was an ill-humoured affair after a week of sharpening, more personal, attacks from the Tories on Brown following more expenses developments, mockery of Tory posters, uncertainty over the future of the AV referendum in parliament, and fires to put out for Cameron over Lord Ashcroft and local Conservative PPCs.

Joining Progress today were Paul Richards, Hopi Sen and Rupa Huq, all known in and around the world of UK political commentary. The discussion kicked off just after the end of PMQs and we ask who won, who was the best backbencher, who made the best comment or joke(not so many today), and what the ongoing implications are for the general election campaign. Gordon Prentice and Douglas Carswell win mentions for their contributions, while opinion was divided on who won the leaders’ match.