David Smith MP: The essential need for meaningful work a good place to start

That is what we urgently need from our next Prime Minister, and I was glad to nominate him.

As important and necessary as this is, we also need to think beyond what one man or woman can do for us

We need a vision that belongs to all of us, that lives far beyond party politics; rooted in practical action and strong enough to withstand debate.

I think a good place to start, where most of us agree on the headlines, is the essential need for meaningful work.

One in five working-age people in Britain are not employed, and that is not the sign of a prosperous country.

People without a good job don’t just face money worries. They lose structure, connection and confidence.

When I led a homelessness charity, supporting people into work radically reduced their chances of becoming homeless again.

Yet foolishly we have built an economy that rewards moving money around more than making things, growing things, and serving communities.

Work could and should become a shared endeavour again through three ways.

First, the government must continue what local businesses are already trying to do, which is offer proper skills training.

In North Northumberland, there are huge areas with no vocational education options at all. We need a regional effort to train young people for craft and manufacturing as much as academic learning.

Second, financial investment must be given to small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of a healthy local economy. The British Business Bank discovered that London attracted 63% of all UK SME investment in 2023. Our farmers in Rothbury, hotels in Seahouses, and barley maltings in Berwick need proper access to the country’s finances and institutions too.

Thirdly, the success of a company should be linked to the thriving of its employees and the wider community. Many businesses already understand this. They just need structures to ensure workers have a seat at the table. Within this point I also want to acknowledge that our communities often stay afloat through much unpaid work that is extremely valuable; raising families, caring responsibilities and volunteering.

Our new Prime Minister needs to get to work. And so do we.