Sajid Javid’s message on aspiration should be heeded – The Yorkshire Post says

Educated at a comprehensive school, his family lived in a flat above the shop that they ran, he then went to Exeter University before entering business and becoming managing director of Deutsche Bank, a position which reflected his extraordinary abilities.

Children in the North deserve aspirations too – Jayne Dowle

Yet Mr Javid’s rise contradicts today’s report – Elitist Britain 2019 – which reveals how Britain’s most influential people are five times more likely to have studied at a private school than the general population. The embodiment of this is Boris Johnson, an Old Etonian, taking on Jeremy Hunt, a former head boy at the equally exclusive Charterhouse school to become Prime Minister.

This is my plan to Power Up The North – Sajid Javid

However, while private education has an important role to play in society, the job of politicians is to ensure that all youngsters have the best chance – whatever their family circumstances – to fulfil their potential.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s successor warned: Power Up The North before it is too late

As such, both contenders would be advised to heed the tweet that Mr Javid posted yesterday in response to a column that was written by The Yorkshire Post’s Jayne Dowle on the importance of education broadening the horizons of young people. He wrote: “Thank you @JayneDowle – great to see the aspirational spirit in your school. Hope to see the final two candidates talk about rebalancing our economy #powerupthenorth.”

Hear, hear.