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While the existentially challenged Tories gathers in its conference city for its annual party conference, it has much to ponder regarding its next steps. There is uncertainty if a clear direction remains open. These are challenging circumstances for a political party that now has almost nothing, if anything, new or unique to say to the electorate.

The Missed Opportunity

Things could have turned out markedly improved if real advances had been made on an agenda that resonates with people throughout the UK: Equal opportunity. However the previous administration did not possess the slightest idea on how to convert the popular slogan on levelling up into actual implementation. Over twenty-four months after the general election, it debated what the term actually signified.

I found it bizarre, because I’d already told the Prime Minister what social mobility meant when we initially discussed about it during the contest for party leader. The phrase was a term I developed and used at the Department for Education to talk about social mobility. It was our core mission, and its definition is clear: social mobility is the approach by which we attain equality of opportunity – without removing opportunity away from those who are already advantaged, but rather by extending opportunities to those that lack them.

Essential Principle

Another crucial education department term we used, “potential is equally shared around the UK, yet chances are not”, represented another a deliberate expression, reflecting the dual components of a equal opportunity plan. To begin with, ability distributed uniformly but not cultivated evenly through our learning institutions. Additionally, opportunities not spread evenly by the private sector or our market. Therefore, learning and employment were essential to achieving better life chances. This represented an agenda about the community framework of our country – fostering individual capabilities and providing access to prospects.

What Levelling Up Became

How did levelling up become under Johnson’s Conservatives? Regional development money managed by the DLUHC. Decorative floral displays and redeveloped traffic systems. A white paper was released almost thirty-six months after Johnson became leader, which saw existing policy approaches repackaged under the recently branded agenda.

Therefore, a wider fairness strategy went undeveloped, as well as all the change that it might have driven – in investment, enterprise, fiscal strategy, tax and in community development. And, of course, in education, including a tertiary education that has become a punchbag for leaders across parties – despite the fact that it remains the most powerful engine of upward movement for youth from modest backgrounds, including myself, this country has had over the past 30 years. Possibly the primary source of social mobility, working extensively.

Why Hope Matters

Aspiration is essential for our country to prosper. For hope to exist, there needs to be a realistic expectation that hard work and results are connected; that if people dream big, they can attain. For all administrations, being able to foster a sense of optimism about the years ahead is critical. Analysis by the academic institution at the university and others, newly available, showed that the DfE’s 12 “opportunity areas” I introduced as education secretary – community-focused methods to improving education outcomes – led to young people in those neighborhoods being up to 18 percentage points more positive about their future than those in equivalent locations without these programmes in place. The data shows: just making an genuine beginning on equal chance initiatives can quickly and positively change how people view their destiny.

Squandered Chances

Ignoring this evidence, and in the midst of its new leader election, in September 2022, the Conservative government terminated the programmes. Why should any person in those regions vote for a organization that took that action? This specific initiative is a single instance of what might have become a transformative Tory policy platform on social mobility, but that chance was completely wasted. Strategies such as this can inspire hope and aspiration. Conversely, as the Conservatives learned, failing to deliver of equal opportunity is the costliest mistake any leadership can make. The public penalized the administration for its failure but, above all, for its broken promises on equal opportunity.

Present Circumstances

At present the mandate on social mobility and equal chances has passed to a new administration. The previous terminology has been discarded. The current administration has its own political rhetoric of “eliminating hurdles to advancement”. The organization that is steadily supplanting the hapless Conservative party, the alternative party, also has its own message – “economic renewal”. This expression to talk about new opportunities in regions like the one I come from, in South Yorkshire. It promises that an historical manufacturing base can be reborn into an revitalized economy.

For voters, it must feel like a Groundhog Day-style loop. Identical problem, different language. However, so far, no progress.

The Way Forward

Whether the government and opposition want to avoid the similar destiny, each group should learn from the Conservatives’ failure on social mobility; that social mobility rhetoric is one thing, but actual achievement of improved opportunities is significantly more difficult. Our nation’s persistently low life chances remains the primary challenge for our country, with young people unable to get a decent career start, those laboring in employment with minimal progress after the rent has been paid, and citizens throughout the UK without any real hope their offspring will be able to do improve in life than they have.

Elected officials can mention equal chances however much they like. Yet where is the party that has the comprehensive policy agenda on equal opportunity? I see none. Whichever party succeeds initially, wins. Not just for their party, but, significantly, for a whole country that has urgently needs fair chances so urgently.