Raymond Keene OBE
International Chess Grandmaster and Patron of the Labour Asians Society
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s recent video message on his social media platform offers young people something they need: hope grounded in opportunity. His willingness to acknowledge the obstacles between education and employment deserves our support. Honest leadership begins by recognising where systems have failed and accepting responsibility for making them work better.
Too often, young people seeking employment face an impossible circle: they need experience to secure a job, but cannot gain experience without someone offering them a chance. Burnham’s refusal to blame them is welcome. His approach recognises that ambition needs encouragement, practical support and an accessible route into working life.
I particularly support his determination to give academic and technical education equal respect. University is one valuable pathway, but apprenticeships, vocational qualifications and practical training can also unlock potential. A successful nation recognises different abilities and gives every young person a fair opportunity to develop them.
Work experience, stronger connections between employers and schools, and timely mental health support can help turn uncertainty into confidence. These measures address the person behind the application form. A young person needs more than a vacancy: they need preparation, guidance and the belief that their contribution matters.
This ambition belongs within a wider philosophy of national cooperation. Britain’s challenges demand collaboration between communities, businesses, public services and different levels of government. We achieve more when we share responsibility and expertise. Political leadership should bring these strengths together around the common purpose of improving people’s lives.
The establishment of Number 10 North offers an opportunity to connect national ambition with regional knowledge. Growth must reach beyond London. Local leaders understand the industries, skills and opportunities within their communities. Giving them a stronger voice can help ensure that regeneration reflects the needs of the people it serves. (gov.uk)
Science and technology also have an essential part to play. Artificial intelligence already offers powerful tools for research and innovation. Its future development should be guided towards public benefit, with education and training helping people share in the opportunities it creates.
Sir Demis Hassabis, a Nobel laureate, illustrates the remarkable intellectual talent Britain can nurture. I first encountered him as an eight-year-old during a simultaneous chess exhibition against around fifty schoolchildren in Streatham. He resisted so tenaciously that I had to draw upon all my experience before eventually winning. (nobelprize.org)
Even then, his ability was unmistakable. That memory reminds me why we must recognise talent early and create the conditions in which it can flourish. Potential exists throughout our communities; opportunity must become widespread.
I support Burnham’s positive direction and his determination to translate vision into action. Delivery will require persistence, investment and cooperation, but those demands should strengthen our resolve. Businesses can offer placements, educators can open pathways, and community organisations can provide mentoring and encouragement.
At its best, government helps people build lives of dignity, purpose and independence. By connecting honest leadership, scientific progress and practical opportunity, we can give our young people reasons to believe in tomorrow. It is time to support that endeavour and help make its promise a reality.
