Let’s reboot Boris

The old myth that hard work would be rewarded no longer held. If you’re born poor, or go to the wrong school, chances are you’ll stay where you are.

And if you’re from a BAME – black, Asian, minority, ethnic – background, or disabled or a woman, your chances of earning a decent living are minimal.

But every so often people beat the odds. Against this backdrop of a system rigged against them, they break through.

Success like that of Laura Mcmanus is extra special.

She grew up on a council estate and was three when her heroin addict mother died.

Laura was expelled at 15, failed her GCSES and was pregnant at 16.

The single mum lived in hostels, worked a string of jobs and survived hand to mouth.

But Laura was determined to turn things around. All her life she’d been told council estate kids don’t become doctors.

But at 23 she took her GCSES. Then her A-levels. Then she went to medical school.

Now she’s achieved her childhood dream. At 31, she is working in A&E. It is a fantastic, inspiring story. Until the system is changed and is fairer for all, we should celebrate these breakthroughs.

Not just because of what they mean to the individual but because every time someone makes it, social mobility improves and equality comes a step closer.

In Laura’s words: “I want to be an example to kids from tough backgrounds. Just look at where I am now. Anything is possible.”

Summed up perfectly, Dr Mcmanus. THE latest EU wheeze dreamt up by Boris Johnson has us mystified. He’s exhausted all legitimate avenues and now he’s into the really crazy stuff.

It would involve the government making the EU kick us out rather than us leaving.

If your computer behaved like this there would be one answer – switch it off and on again.

That’s what our political system needs, a reboot. If it takes an election, so be it.