O/T Diane Abbott

[rolymiller]

Yes YOU have been lucky a123 but many working class kids haven't. Yes some working class kids achieve but the playing field is tipped heavily against them no matter how hard they work. .What about some of your best pals at school? Don't you spare a thought for those who have been left behind or maybe you don't care.Your conscience i suppose. I would guess you were brought up in the Thatcher era where the thought of only number 1 ruled for ump**** years.

[a123]

Yes YOU have been lucky a123 but many working class kids haven't. What about some of your best pals at school? Don't you spare a thought for those who have been left behind or maybe you don't care.Your conscience i suppose. I would guess you were brought up in the Thatcher era where the thought of only number 1 ruled for ump**** years.

Same as most school classes, some have gone on to do better than me, some are similar, some have done worse.

The fact is it comes down to the individual to take responsibility for their life, you don't have to fall into the dead end factory job, or the zero hours contract or a life on the dole, you can work bloody hard to develop your lot and achieve something in life.

I'm no superstar I left school with 5 O levels, made a complete mess of my A levels, but then researched potential careers that had the opportunity to develop into a better career path.

I certainly wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but one thing I had in my corner was my dad and Granddad, one a steelworker, one who worked in both the pits and steelworks, who were both determined that whatever I did in life I wasn't going to tread the same path as them.

They kept me on the straight and narrow and made sure I grasped the opportunity I had been given with both hands

[rolymiller]

Interesting dad and grandad were steelworkers/ miners . They must have been members of trade unions. Arguably maybe if their pay and conditions hadnt been fought for they wouldnt have been able to support you like they did. You might not even have been here!

I worked in the steelworks myself for 25 years before moving on to another career-not as lucrative as yours by the sound of it. i would not have wanted my kids to work in the steelworks either and of course i want them to do well. In saying that I always remind them where they have come from and the important things in life are not to do with materialism and wealth but being happy and content. Also to care about others. I find it hard to believe your dad and grandad said sod everybody else...

[Lasterman]

Nothing is ever out of date with Labour whilst ever we have the tories around trying to turn the clock back to victorian workhouse conditions , foodbanks and a none existent welfare state .

Only one party out of date pal and it isn't labour .

Victorian Workhouse...are you serious? Suggest that someone does a few hours unpaid work in return for their benefits and there's an outcry. And as for food banks...well when the people attending them don't have mobile phone and Sky contracts, 65" TV's and alcohol/cigarette habits I might start to see the need. I'm not suggesting the people attending are well off, but their popularity is a reflection of a desire to spend limited resources on something other than food, rather than a genuine need. I'd be tempted to do the same myself if I found myself in that position.

[rolymiller]

Lasterman. How do you know that people who attend food banks have these things? Have you met them all? Genuine question. I don't even know myself not knowing anybody who uses food banks.

[Lasterman]

Lasterman. How do you know that people who attend food banks have these things? Have you met them all? Genuine question. I don't even know myself not knowing anybody who uses food banks.

No I haven't met them all, but I have met a number and been in their homes. I also know someone who volunteers at food banks. In my experience, food banks are often used to free up cash for discretionary purchases (and sometimes used as a source of goods to be turned into cash). I'm sure many of us would be tempted to do the same in similar circumstances, but it's annoying when the existance of food banks is used as 'proof' of underlying poverty. They are proof of the fact that if you offer people free stuff, they'll take it.

[a123]

Interesting dad and grandad were steelworkers/ miners . They must have been members of trade unions. Arguably maybe if their pay and conditions hadnt been fought for they wouldnt have been able to support you like they did. You might not even have been here!

I worked in the steelworks myself for 25 years before moving on to another career-not as lucrative as yours by the sound of it. i would not have wanted my kids to work in the steelworks either and of course i want them to do well. In saying that I always remind them where they have come from and the important things in life are not to do with materialism and wealth but being happy and content. Also to care about others. I find it hard to believe your dad and grandad said sod everybody else...

I've never said sod everybody else, I'm merely pointing out it is possible to be working class and make a success of your life.

In my experience, I've worked in social housing for the best part of 30 years, there are too many people who feel they are entitled to the good things in life, without having to put the effort into earning it.

To be told you need to pay increased taxes to pay for them to squander on the latest iPhone or Samsung 65" television, rather than looking after their kids which is what they should be doing with the money, sticks in my craw.

I don't doubt there are people in society who genuinely need help, but in my view these parasites at the bottom are equally as bad as any tax dodging individual/corporation at the top and are just as responsible for the fact there is not enough money to go round.

[rolymiller]

To be fair to you, I can't imagine many parents who worked downt pit and in the steelworks would want the same for their kids. They are pretty grim industries to work in. Would you say that there was a need for unions for your dad/ grandad bearing in mind that they didnt want you to work in such industries?

[kentmillerman]

She is a 10 pinter. Corbyn must have seen something there. . Ah red pants.

[a123]

To be fair to you, I can't imagine many parents who worked downt pit and in the steelworks would want the same for their kids. They are pretty grim industries to work in. Would you say that there was a need for unions for your dad/ grandad bearing in mind that they didnt want you to work in such industries?

Being honest it was a mix of things, as you say they were hard uncompromising industries, bloody dangerous places to work, first time I can remember our old fella crying like a baby was when one of his best mates was crushed to death in a machine, and yes to some degree the unions played a part in making the environment safer.

The second thing was the lack of a future, growing up I can remember there were always rumours of the next closure, the next round of redundancies and I can vividly remember a number of times when my dad got back from work and said to my mum it's good news for us love we're safe but there's some poor unfortunate families in another plant who are not so lucky tonight.

He could see the old industries dying on there feet hence wanting me to do something else, as well as wanting a better life for me.

I'm no different with my kids, I'm not a materialistic person who wastes money on the latest must have's, I'm investing it so I can give my kids the best possible start to their adult life's when they want to take that step.