White working class boys being left behind, says Bridlington MP

More needs to be done to address the "underachievement" of white working class boys, according to a Conservative MP. Charlie Dewhirst, who represents Bridlington and The Wolds, called on the government to publish a strategy to improve social mobility for young white men living in poorer communities. "I've been looking into the statistics and, in recent years, white working class boys have been underachieving versus other demographic groups, whether that's in education, employment or poorer health outcomes", Dewhirst said. The government said it was launching "two place-based challenges designed to improve outcomes for white working-class children and disadvantaged communities". "I wanted to highlight the fact that, too often in recent years, governments have taken targeted measures, they've identified groups they think need help and we're not thinking about the wider majority," Dewhirst told BBC Politics North. Analysis published on Sunday by The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) said white working class boys were "stuck at the bottom of the class". Researchers found only 36 per cent of white British boys on free school meals reached the expected standard in GCSE maths and English –

Mar 23, 2026 → Mar 23, 2026