Elite professions told: Bin the old school tie

Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged to smash the "glass ceiling" and closed-shop mentality of many of Britain's elite industries as he unveiled a package of support from 2012.

Up to 130,000 high-achieving students from deprived backgrounds will be given free university and college places as part of the measures.

The move signals an attempt by Labour to seize back its mantle as the party of aspiration and is the latest missive in the class war with the Conservatives, who yesterday also pledged to improve teaching in state schools.

Improved internships were also part of the plans unveiled yesterday by Mr Brown, after a panel headed by former Cabinet minister Alan Milburn last year found that social mobility had reversed in professions including law, finance and the media.

Young people from upper-middle-class backgrounds also had the advantage of social and family ties in the top professions, giving them an easier introduction to the best jobs, studies have found.

Mr Brown said: "We can't be a truly aspirational society if some people are still denied the chance to get on, and although we have raised the glass ceiling, we have yet to break it. That is why our priority will be to remove all the barriers that are holding people back."

A Social Mobility Commission will also be set up to help fill the gap of "connections" for young people from deprived backgrounds.

However, the largest union representing lecturers and academics said the plans looked ridiculous after the government announced plans to cut university funding.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: "With access to higher education still largely dependent on social class, the government is right to be looking at ways to ensure that people from all backgrounds can reach university.

"The reality, however, is that unless the government is prepared to back higher education and reverse plans for damaging cuts, then the plans will remain a fantasy."

The commission will report annually on progress towards a fairer and more mobile society, while professional organisations will be asked to detail what they have done to widen access.

Business minister Pat McFadden denied the measures were part of a Labour election strategy to portray the Tories as elitist.

He said: "This isn't about class war, the real class war would be to tell people they should know their place and to continue restricting opportunity to a narrow group.

"This is about opening up opportunity to the broad majority in Britain, to ensure that those who have the ability also get the chance to do the kinds of professional jobs which are going to grow in number in future years."

The proposals will mostly apply to England, but also set the tone for the general election battle which revolves around marginal seats in "Middle Britain".

Analysis:

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