Labour accused of ‘social engineering' over working class internships
Currently the summer scheme is up to two months long, and open to undergraduate students in the last two years of their degree, allowing them to shadow civil servants, write briefings and take part in policy research. Those deemed successful will then be put forward for the Civil Service Fast Stream graduate programme. From next summer, however, only those from poorer backgrounds – with parents who are receptionists, plumbers or van drivers – will be accepted.
Speaking to the Beeb, Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden insisted:
We need to get more working-class young people into the Civil Service so it harnesses the broadest range of talent and truly reflects the country. Government makes better decisions when it represents and understands the people we serve.
The Tories have hit out at the move, criticising Sir Keir Starmer's Labour lot of 'leftist social engineering'. Shadow cabinet office minister Mike Wood added: 'We believe in opportunity based on what you can do, not where you come from. We all want to see greater opportunity for working-class young people. But this scheme sends the message that unless you fit a particular social profile, you're no longer welcome.'
Quite. Perhaps the government should have taken a leaf out of The Spectator's CV-blind internship scheme instead…
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