181 years since the Slavery Abolition Act heralded the victory of William Wilberforce’s campaign to end the slave trade, Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke is continuing the heroic Wilberforceonian tradition of fighting for the freedom of oppressed peoples. His Ten Minute Rule Motion laid before the House today calls for the prohibition of unpaid internships. Shelbrooke will stand up and tell the political class to let his people go:

“Like most young people, at our local comprehensive school both my sister and I were taught that hard work and determination would help us make something of ourselves in the world of work. Our supportive parents made us work part-time jobs around our education, something that taught us the real value of money, something we had to do to run our first cars and something that taught us how to budget; a valuable lesson for later life. Unpaid work was simply not an option for me or my sister and it should no longer be a barrier for ordinary kids like we were, to get into the workplace. In the 21st Century it is time to ban the practice of unpaid labour.”

All together now: “I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.”

UPDATE: It passes 181-19. Second reading Thursday.