The class-ism laws sound fun. I'm Dave from Slough, shaved head, left school at 17 and went to work in a factory (true) also David from near Eton, chartered accountant and masters graduate (true).
What class am I, m'lud?
Brave New World here we come...though I bet NuLab don't read that, or 1984.

Dave (a.k.a. David), Slough,

Well said Hamad Lone - I agree entirely with your comment! I came from a council flat background but have worked hard (as have my borther and sister) and we have all excelled professionally and finacially in our chosen fields. My parents did not have lots of money but they certainly encouraged us

Lisa, London, UK

This problem could be rectified if University courses where free to disadvantaged students or a graduate rate of income tax was introduced.
Higher education has once again become elitist.

S Mills, Lancaster, Lancashire

Children need to learn to be independently curious and given cognitive skills like analysing, comparing, reasoning and planning. Doing research is only useful if the researcher has a clear objective and plan and the necessary skills. Change the content of education, not subsidiary issues.

Neil, Norwich, UK

A special difference for the 1951 (or so) babies was that many of them had one or both parents who had been in the armed forces which forced a certain amount of class mixing.
Bringing back National Service could again lead to improved social mobility (and alleviate unemployment).

charles , EXETER, U.K.

I have a great idea.
Why not select the poor children on ability and arrange for the brightest to go to schools dedicated to bringing out the best in them - whilst those not so academically gifted can go to schools whose aim is to equip them with the skills to succeed on less technical jobs.

John Wood, Hull, GBR

winifred, tax credits are the problem in themselves the handouts encourage people to stay in low paying jobs, wheras tax cuts would allow people to keep more of the money they earn, hence a big incentive. + why should tax credits be given, when the kid is getting £5k+ in loans and grants?

will, grimsby, uk

Low income working poor have the child's tax credits cut if the child chooses to attend University.Tax credits are paid for attendance at a community college.Result..the poor only have access to an incomplete education.A very effective way to ensure another generation of have-nots.

Winifred Bachmann, Lanarkshire, Scotland

The usual labour nonsense. throwing more money at the wrong strategy will not get different results. The 50's and 60's had discipline in the classroom, which helped everybody. That is one reason why mobility was more likely. Sadly, the same is not true now

dave, glossop,

The middle classes value education and encourage children to learn & aspire. The child grows up in an environment in which intellectual achievement is prized. It has little to do with cash. If Labour thinks its all about handouts nothing will change save an incr in public debt and benefit culture.

Mark, Berkhamsted,

As an ex-council house kid, who managed to go to Uni and now have a profession. I consider it an insult that Labour Public school types consider that we are so dim as to need a helping hand.
Just provide decent education and we will do the rest, those that don't take advantage don't deserve it.

Howard Leech, Gdansk, Poland

Who in their right mind would want to be socially mobile, upwards, when doing so condemns their children to positive discrimination on the grounds of parental achievement?

Eleanor, south, uk

New Labour did nothing useful to help the poor. Social mobility depends on education and job status. New Labour's policy has been to keep wages so low that the unskilled and semi-skilled workers could never afford to take time off from work to study for better qualifications. It's a vicious circle

Madalena, London, UK

There was no mention of discouraging these people from breeding, only of how they'll be rewarded for irresponsible breeding. This is just more of the same labour policy of sit back, take no responsibility, let the state do it all for you, that has caused the problem in the first place.

Chris, Derby,

New Labour. Free handouts to the lazy and to the feckless. The benefits culture is a blight on our society. Why not reward those struggling on the minimum wage with some tax cuts ? The employed SHOULD be wealthier than the unemployed ?

frank, swindon, uk

The best that can be said of Labour is that they have made no difference in 12 years. The worst is that they have wrecked the country. The country has got to rid itself of this sick party and ensure that it is never again subject to its Orwellian experimentation.

Ubi, Edinburgh, UK

I agree "The key to social mobility is education, and the key to a good education is discipline". Labour has nationalized the state schools and they are run by politics; the independents have to do what parents want. Labour is soon to compel yet more of its failed sex education into state schools.

George, Bolton, England

Social mobility was killed when Grammar Schools were disbanded. They provided FREE, high-quality education to poor, but able, children from modest backgrounds, and the chance of a better future. Unless parents can pay, even the most ambitious children are trapped.

Marion, Budapest, Hungary

The best way forward is quality education for ALL. However, parents also need to be held accountable for the upbringing and values instilled in their offspring. Just throwing money at the "poor" is not the answer.

Hamad Lone, London, England

It's one thing to lift disadvantaged kids out of sink estates and into well paid jobs and quite another to get them to go back afterwards to visit family and friends.

David, Exeter, UK

The key to social mobility is education, and the key to a good education is discipline in class. Discipline in many schools, esp in London, is so bad that learning is almost impossible. At the least those who actually wish to learn should be segregated from the disruptive elements (or vice versa).

Dirk Bruere, Bedford , England

Why can't the school system be streamed. Why can't those under achieving three-year olds be given an extra few hours of tuition each day? Opening up private schools would help a minimal percentage of students. Improving state schools and increasing the number of hours put into schooling might do mre

ag, Kingston, England

If the children of the poor are irretrievably behind at 3 surely it is the adults (parents) that need educating. I have worked in developing coutnries and it is very clear that even the poorest of parents in such countires appreciate the value of education and encourage and support their chidren.

Paul Clarke, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The elephant in the room is house prices. How can you have social mobility when what you earn is disconnected from how you can live. Today it is about what your parents bought, or when you bought. Not what you do. In this environment social advancement is impossible. But nobody ever talks about it.

Bob Jones, London,

Grammar schools. Best meritocratic route to the top we've ever had.

Ryan, London,