There is a middle aged baker with a very small shop in York Shambles who bakes lots of different savoury breads, in different sizes, which bring wonderfully varied tastes to the palate. He is usually sold out by lunch time, and too busy to enter into conversation before that. We arrived at 12.40 and he had only two different large loaves and half a dozen small ones left. We bought a large one and a different kind of small one. He was obviously more relaxed than usual so i asked him where he trained to become so good at his trade.

He is completely self taught, learning from his own mistakes and enjoying what he does. I asked him if he made the same quantities every day and he made smaller amounts during the week than weekends. Did he have tourists coming back one year after another? “Yes many,” he said. I said, “you don’t have any competition.” “Some try, but they can’t do it,” he replied with a smile. A lady came in and cleared his remaining stock. I noticed she was panting a bit, as if she’d been hurrying. We had the small loaf between us, with fresh fried salmon, when we got home and if was absolutely delicious.

This work ethic is born in us. it can be squashed, developed or ignored. It is the fuel of society and builds nations. When channelled, nurtured, encouraged and valued at all levels from the most menial upwards. it unites, raises standards and hopes for everyone. Our bin men, for instance, work with the same diligence to do a good job, like nurses, postmen and the rest of the working population. Many like our baker realise their potential in different ways, under their own steam, and life is much better because of them.

Too much youthful potential is lost in the rush to produce academic graduates. The leaders of our political parties are products of this policy and look to fill top jobs from where they emerged, first taking them on as researchers and assistants. New Labour, the Conservatives and Lib Dems do this and millions of voters cannot relate to them and feel no personal involvement in their government. First past the post disenfranchises more millions. These voters do not deserve their votes to be lost and cut off from representation in government. Votes with proper proportional representation in their government, Single Transferable Votes, would give them a stake in the nations’ successful future and another reason to work.

Those who deny them this have never been committed to a life of real work, but have taken all the advantages of exclusive power for themselves.