Time for Labour to kick start Sure Start

The reason I came into politics is because I'm angry at the blatant inequality I see. What is worse is the denial and lack of acceptance of this fact by many of those that have plenty. Too often I hear the claim that social and material deprivation is the punishment for laziness. It's too convenient for the educated elite to ignore their advantages: being read to as a child, successful role models, habitable home environment, good diet, access to sport, access to music and art, homes free of domestic abuse, substance abuse or mental health complications, being surrounded be equally privileged youths and safety from gang violence. For those willing to pause for a millisecond, it's evident that an absence of any of these benefits will make social elevation and self dependency infinitely harder to obtain.

With hundreds of thousands of young unemployed people, thousands of people who work hard but need benefits to survive and gigantic companies amounting huge profits at the expense of the majority, society is clearly in a state of unfairness. This is especially true while those attending elite private schools continue to collect a substantial proportion of the highest paying jobs.

We could stand back and do nothing. Alternatively we could attack the root of the problem - lack of equal opportunity.

It has been known for a long time from a range of sources whether academics, charities, social workers or people in education, that early intervention and opportunities from a very young age offer an extremely robust way to develop well, and succeed in society.

However, despite this obvious reality, the Tory-led Coalition has systematically stripped away the essence of what Labour had tried to build. The large scale of cuts to, and closures of, Labour's Sure Start programme has been one of the most short sighted polices of this administration. Lack of opportunity breeds lack of social integration, lack of economic growth and an increase in every other major cost to society: ill health, crime and other complex social problems. With David Cameron reneging on his promise not to close any, around 500 Sure Start centres have shut their doors. For the ones that have survived, many have had to slim down their activities.

Many will read this with a cold exterior and will calmly proclaim that these closures are an essential step to address the budget deficit. To those who hold that view, I ask them to think of the long term costs of a failed society in which thousands are left unable to contribute positively through lack of opportunity. If one can envisage that, we can envisage what a sensible expenditure Sure Start centres are. That is why as a Labour Parliamentary Candidate I will always advocate for child services.