Older workers currently occupying these exact roles were often hired with no qualifications at all; they walked into a local business, “shook hands, and got the job,” without an interview, without a CV and often without even having finished formal education. Now, corporations demand a Bachelor’s degree for a job that is considered “entry-level,”
The Golden Age of Piracy was a radical, self-governing alternative to the exploitative and life-threatening conditions of the British Royal Navy and merchant fleets. Life aboard a naval ship was brutal, with harsh discipline, low wages, and a high risk of death or injury with no compensation.
The Northern Powerhouse was an idea; now we have the data to judge its implementation. It is time to learn from its shortcomings, to listen to the voices of Yorkshire, and to demand a new path forward.
