By Christian Abbott
Copyright birminghammail
Sir Keir Starmer has said that two-thirds of children should go to university or take a “gold-standard” apprenticeship. The Prime Minister said that the desire to get 50% of kids to university is no longer the right approach in the landscape of Britain today. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, ee said: “That’s national renewal, that’s a Britain built for all. That’s what I stand for.” Read more: British Gas launches support scheme for customers worth up to £2,000 The 50% target was put in place by Tony Blair’s government. The PM announced that further education will be made a defining cause of the government, raising the quality of teaching, qualifications linked to jobs, new technical colleges. He also took aim at Reform UK several times throughout the conference speech, in which he asked if the Reform UK leader says “anything positive about Britain’s future?” Starmer said: “We can all see these snake oil merchants, on the right, on the left, but be in no doubt, conference, none of them have any interest in national renewal, because decline is good for their business. “When was the last time you heard Nigel Farage say anything positive about Britain’s future? “He can’t. He doesn’t like Britain, doesn’t believe in Britain, wants you to doubt it as much as he does. And so he resorts to grievance. They all do it. They want to turn this country, this proud, self-reliant country, into a competition of victims.” He also said Labour will fight next year’s elections as “patriots of our great nations”. Starmer said: said: “I’m not just proud of the Union Jack and the cross of St George, I’m also proud of the Saltire, proud of the Red Dragon, proud of our union – this astonishing relationship between four great nations. “Four different nations, yes, but four nations that time and again have been through the fire, together, built so much, together. A country forged by the solidarity of working people. “So, let’s fly all our flags, conference, because they are our flags. They belong to all of us and we will never surrender them. And let’s unite our country behind them, because this is no time for dividers. “This is the time for bringing the whole country together. That’s how we will fight next year’s elections, as patriots of our great nations.”
