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Labour conference: Miliband planning new qualification Labour conference: Miliband planning new qualification
(35 minutes later)
By Brian Wheeler Political reporter, BBC News, in ManchesterBy Brian Wheeler Political reporter, BBC News, in Manchester
Labour leader Ed Miliband is to pledge to transform the lives of the "forgotten" 50% of young people in England who do not go to university.Labour leader Ed Miliband is to pledge to transform the lives of the "forgotten" 50% of young people in England who do not go to university.
In his keynote speech in Manchester, Mr Miliband will unveil proposals for a new qualification - the technical baccalaureate - to be taken at 18. In his party conference speech in Manchester, he will unveil proposals for a new qualification - the technical baccalaureate - to be taken at 18.
He will vow to reform apprenticeships by giving businesses more control.He will vow to reform apprenticeships by giving businesses more control.
But the Conservatives accuse Mr Miliband of "playing catch up" on their vocational reforms. But the Conservatives accused Mr Miliband of "playing catch up" with their own vocational reforms.
Mr Miliband will also attempt to boost his public profile by talking about his own background and values. In his speech, his third since becoming Labour leader in 2010, Mr Miliband will attempt to boost his profile by talking about his own background and values.
He is under pressure to project a more prime ministerial image after recent polls suggested he trailed his party in popularity and that most people would prefer David Cameron in Number 10.He is under pressure to project a more prime ministerial image after recent polls suggested he trailed his party in popularity and that most people would prefer David Cameron in Number 10.
In what aides are describing as the most personal speech ever given by a British political leader, Mr Miliband will talk about growing up as the son of Jewish refugees who fled the Nazis.In what aides are describing as the most personal speech ever given by a British political leader, Mr Miliband will talk about growing up as the son of Jewish refugees who fled the Nazis.
Personal story 'Getting on'
"My family hasn't sat under the same oak tree for the last 500 years," Mr Miliband is expected to say. "My family hasn't sat under the same oak tree for the last 500 years," he is expected to say.
"I was born at my local NHS hospital, the same hospital where my two sons were born. And I went to my local school with people from all backgrounds."I was born at my local NHS hospital, the same hospital where my two sons were born. And I went to my local school with people from all backgrounds.
"My school taught us a lot more than just how to pass exams: it taught people how to get on with each other, whoever they are and wherever they were from.""My school taught us a lot more than just how to pass exams: it taught people how to get on with each other, whoever they are and wherever they were from."
BBC political editor Nick Robinson believes Mr Miliband's aim is not just to tell his own personal story - it is to contrast his background with that of David Cameron. BBC political editor Nick Robinson believes Mr Miliband's aim is not just to tell his own personal story - it is to contrast his background with that of Eton-educated Mr Cameron.
"He's trying to say at least I got the values that got me into the Labour party, at least I got a comprehensive education - something he will stress again and again - and that makes me different from the Tory leader. Mr Miliband will declare that the next Labour government will reform education and apprenticeships - in partnership with business - to create a more highly skilled and highly paid workforce.
"His hope is that the public are ready to take another look at him."
Highly skilled workforce
Mr Miliband will declare that the next Labour government will reform education and apprenticeships - in partnership with business - to pave the way for a more highly skilled and highly paid workforce.
"For years and years, our party has focused on those young people who go to university," he will say."For years and years, our party has focused on those young people who go to university," he will say.
"But it's time now to focus on those who don't go to university. "But it's time now to focus on those who don't go to university. The young people who are too often the forgotten 50%. We cannot succeed if we have an education system which only works for half the country."
"The young people who are too often the forgotten 50%. We cannot succeed if we have an education system which only works for half the country." The aim is for the new qualification to replace the dozens of existing vocational qualifications with a single "gold standard" exam, which will also include maths and English.
The aim is for the new qualification to replace the dozens of existing vocational qualifications with a single "gold standard" exam, that will also include maths and English. Labour would also reform apprenticeships, giving control of the £1bn budget for on-the-job training to business and allowing firms more of a say in setting the standards for vocational qualifications.
Labour would also carry out a major reform of apprenticeships, giving control of the £1bn budget for on-the-job training to business and allowing firms more of a say in setting the standards for vocational qualifications.
'Fast track''Fast track'
"Sector by sector, we're going to give business the power and responsibility to make sure the training happens," he will say. "Sector by sector, we're going to give business the power and responsibility to make sure the training happens," Mr Miliband will say.
There would be a new "fast track" for apprentices to match the one that already exists to get bright graduates into the civil service and all large firms with government contracts would be forced to provide apprenticeships.There would be a new "fast track" for apprentices to match the one that already exists to get bright graduates into the civil service and all large firms with government contracts would be forced to provide apprenticeships.
He will tell delegates: "I want ours to be a country where kids aspire not just to go to Oxford and Cambridge but to excellent technical colleges and elite vocational institutions. Mr Miliband will tell delegates: "I want ours to be a country where kids aspire not just to go to Oxford and Cambridge but to excellent technical colleges and elite vocational institutions.
"We need to do what we haven't done in decades: build a culture in our country where vocational qualifications are not seen as second class certificates but for what they can be - a real route on and up to quality apprenticeships and jobs.""We need to do what we haven't done in decades: build a culture in our country where vocational qualifications are not seen as second class certificates but for what they can be - a real route on and up to quality apprenticeships and jobs."
Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said Mr Miliband had been "performing extremely well" in polls asking how in touch he is with people's concerns and understanding how to get jobs and growth. The latest opinion poll by ComRes for the Independent newspaper has Labour on 38 points, down three points on last month. The Conservatives are unchanged on 35 points and the Liberal Democrats up three points on 15.
The poll also suggests only 22% of people think Mr Miliband "has what it takes to be a good prime minister", compared with 39% for David Cameron.
But shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said Mr Miliband had been "performing extremely well" in polls asking how in touch he is with people's concerns and understanding how to get jobs and growth.
"The real polls that matter are actually getting people's votes at elections, and Ed has very successfully done that during his time as leader. We have won almost every by-election under his leadership that there has been [and] we've won back hundreds more councillors."The real polls that matter are actually getting people's votes at elections, and Ed has very successfully done that during his time as leader. We have won almost every by-election under his leadership that there has been [and] we've won back hundreds more councillors.
"But ultimately what people will judge Ed on is who he is and and what he believes in.""But ultimately what people will judge Ed on is who he is and and what he believes in."
The Conservatives responded to the details of Mr Miliband's speech by saying: "Under Labour, we saw our country's education system plummet down the global league tables, far fewer apprenticeships created than our competitors, and youth unemployment rising.The Conservatives responded to the details of Mr Miliband's speech by saying: "Under Labour, we saw our country's education system plummet down the global league tables, far fewer apprenticeships created than our competitors, and youth unemployment rising.
"This government is taking radical steps to create more good schools, reform vocational qualifications and create far more apprenticeships than Labour ever did."This government is taking radical steps to create more good schools, reform vocational qualifications and create far more apprenticeships than Labour ever did.
"But Ed Miliband today is playing catch up on our vocational reforms - and calling for yet more borrowing and more debt." "But Ed Miliband today is playing catch-up on our vocational reforms - and calling for yet more borrowing and more debt."
On Monday, Mr Miliband averted a head-on clash with unions amid tensions over pay restraint and cuts. On Monday, Mr Miliband averted a clash with unions amid tensions over pay restraint and cuts.
A proposed union motion condemning the current pay freeze for public sector workers was watered down, avoiding the danger of defeat for the Labour leadership, who insist preserving jobs must take priority over pay rises. A proposed union motion condemning the current pay freeze for public sector workers was watered down, avoiding the danger of defeat for the Labour leader, who insists preserving jobs must take priority over pay rises.
ComRes interviewed 1,010 adults by telephone between 28 and 30 September for its poll, with data being weighted to be demographically representative.
Are you part of the "forgotten" 50% of young people who do not go to university? Would you benefit from the new qualification and reformed apprenticeships? Send us your views using the form below.Are you part of the "forgotten" 50% of young people who do not go to university? Would you benefit from the new qualification and reformed apprenticeships? Send us your views using the form below.