Anas Sarwar said “working-class white boys” in Glasgow are suffering from intergenerational inequality.
.Speaking to the Glasgow Times, in our series of party leader interviews, the Scottish Labour leader said it is a cycle which must be broken.
The younger generation, he feels, have a raw deal and may not have the same opportunity as their parents and grandparents did.
He said: “I think this generation that's following ours is probably going to be the first, if the trajectory doesn't change, where the generational promise that the next generation has a better chance and a better opportunity than the last one, looks like it's going to get broken.
“And we've all got a personal responsibility in our generation to make sure that doesn't happen.”
Within that, he feels in particular “white, working-class boys” are most at risk.
The party leader said the core value of the Labour party “has to be equality” and that is why he joined, “to advocate for an equality of opportunity, regardless of faith, race, gender or social background.”
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He said: “We've got a hell of a long way to go to make that a reality.
“Thinking about a Glasgow example, quite often when we talk about equality, rightly, people think about levels of misogyny and sexism.
“Rightly, people think about different forms of prejudice and hate in minority communities.
“I think one of the forgotten or not properly debated issues around generational inequality is actually, we look at some parts of Glasgow and the life chances, life outcomes and life expectancy of so many white working-class kids, particularly young boys, is set by their birth and their postcode.
“And that is a generational inequality we have to break in this country.”
"A skill, a, well paid-job and a warm and safe home" is what government needs to facilitate.
Investment in Glasgow and the city centre is badly needed, he said.
Sarwar said: “Let's get some investment and life back into Glasgow city centre and broader Glasgow.”
He listed “achieving the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, reforming our rates system to reinvigorate our city centre, having more integrated transport as a regional economy” as the priorities.
Nationally, he said he wants to cut waiting lists, get more classroom assistants and teachers into schools, and make life more affordable for people.
Sarwar was aged, 27, when elected as an MP in 2010, following in his father’s footsteps, then became an MSP in 2016 and party leader five years later.
He said since taking over as Scottish Labour leader he has learned three main lessons.
He said: “Ultimately don't take yourself too seriously. Secondly, take people with you.
“And third, our jobs, I think, as politicians, needs to be less dictating to the public but actually hearing them and persuading them on things we believe in.”
Sarwar has been in the public eye for many years and his recognition levels have increased but he finds in Glasgow you can always find some “common ground”.
He said: “Honestly, the great thing about living in Glasgow, about Glaswegians is even if they vociferously disagree with you on politics, people are still by a vast, vast majority brand new.
“Even people that are political opponents can come and have really good conversations with you and be really engaging.
“And I think that's the story of Glasgow, isn't it? You can have a turn of phrase or a joke and find common ground.”
Sarwar is married to Furheen and they have three children.
He said spending time with the “weans” is what he tries to find more time for.
When asked should he manage some downtime after the votes are counted what will be his priority, he said: “Two things. One, catching up on sleep, and secondly, spending loads of time with my weans, probably watching back-to-back movies and sleeping some more while I'm doing it.”
Earlier in the year he caused controversy by calling on Keir Starmer to resign as Prime Minister.
He said that position “hasn’t changed” and was bullish when asked why the UK party leader has not come north during the election campaign.
He said: “He's not standing to be First Minister, I am.”
When put to him that other UK leaders have come to give their campaign “a boost” he said: “Is Kemi Badenoch a boost? Is Nigel Farage a boost? Is Ed Davey a boost? I'm not sure.
“I'm the one that's trying to be First Minister, so I'm focusing on the campaign.”
He added: “I was very clear on the 5th of January that the best thing he (Starmer) can do is to be at his desk doing the job and delivering for people and leave the campaign to me.”
He wants to direct focus away from Keir Starmer and towards him.
Sarwar said: “I say directly to leaders of the Glasgow Times who may be undecided in this election or may have a frustration and anger with a UK government.
“I get people are disappointed and frustrated, I am too. But this election is not a vote to endorse Keir Starmer. It won't be used as an endorsement of Keir Starmer, it's about choosing the First Minister.
“It's not passing judgment on two years of a Labour government, it's passing judgment on 20 years of an SNP government.”
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