YP Comment: The leaders who listen and learn. Shining example of John Sentamu and Dan Jarvis

Neither man has lost touch with their roots as they have risen through the ranks, and it is this perspective that enables both to offer words of wisdom which have far more resonance than the hifalutin’ prophesying of those policy-makers cocooned in remote ivory towers and who have lost sight of the needs of people living in the real world.

It is why Mr Jarvis’s critique of Labour’s predicament must not be overlooked – he believes his party will only become electable again if refocuses its policies on the family, work and community, rather than Jeremy Corbyn’s desire to continue fighting the ideological battles of the past. His objective is a fundamental one – a young person in the Barnsley suburb of Kingstone should have the same life chances as a contemporary in the London suburb of Kingston. This certainly chimes with the experience of Dr John Sentamu whose presence continues to captivate and inspire; his marathon tour of the Diocese of York has given him a far greater appreciation of the importance of those unsung heroes in every community who are going the extra mile to create a better society for all. He’s likely to become an even more energetic crusader for social justice.

Yet what is striking is that both the Archbishop and Mr Jarvis don’t talk at the many people they meet each day. They talk to them – it’s a subtle difference – and they listen when people respond. If only Yorkshire, and the country, were blessed by other leaders who were able to follow this example of community engagement rather than working on the false assumption that they always know best.

A class divide: Another glaring example of London bias

IF it was good enough for London, why has the Government not replicated the London Challenge in Yorkshire in order to boost this county’s school standards which remain the worst in the country? It can only be concluded that double standards are being applied to a policy that is critical to the future life chances of young people.

Before London’s schools were given a cash injection in the Millennium’s aftermath to incentivise success and recruit the very best teachers, levels of attainment in the capital lagged behind the rest of the UK. Now its schools are outperforming rival regions by a considerable margin while those in Yorkshire are left to cope with funding shortages and problems recruiting outstanding staff.

Of course, it should be noted that the public sector was awash with money when the London Challenge was launched in 2002 – and that times are much tougher now. Yet, as Ofsted’s regional director Nick Hudson suggests the launch of specific schemes for Leeds, Sheffield and the Humber, a truly One Nation government would find a way to launch an initiative which is actually integral to the Northern Powerhouse – businesses will only relocate here if schools are developing young people with the expertise that will enable them to prosper in a global economy.

More than a year after The Yorkshire Post’s very own election manifesto proposed just such a scheme, the question now is a profound one: How many more pupils are to be denied the world-class education that is their right before the Government deigns to end one of the many injustices which is exposing the scale of the North-South divide in contemporary politics?

The tourism test: Iconic attractions need support

AFTER being shamed into action, the Government grudgingly provided some money to encourage tourists to visit the North once the flood waters had subsidised. Yet, with Easter and the start of the holiday season three weeks away, it is clear that the damage to the county’s tourism infrastructure could be far greater than previously envisaged. Questions have been asked in Parliament about the duration, and cost, of repairs to the Jorvik Viking Centre in York while the Cumbrian stretch of the iconic Settle to Carlisle railway line is out of action following a major landslip.

Given that these are world-famous attractions, the Government is honour-bound to move heaven and earth so both can reopen at the earliest opportunity. To deny funding would not only undermine the Northern Powerhouse’s credibility still further, but it would also be a false economy – a thriving tourism industry not only benefits Yorkshire but it also boosts the coffers of the whole country.