Sir Keir Starmer’s government lacks a coherent social mobility plan, according to the Prime Minister’s own adviser on the issue.
Alun Francis, who chairs the Social Mobility Commission, has urged Sir Keir to present a bolder vision for addressing what he described as “the defining social mobility challenge of our generation”.
Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Francis said: “We have a government that talks quite a lot about social mobility, but mainly about individuals often about [the] social mobility of themselves or their colleagues.
“But what we don’t have is a coherent approach to social mobility as a useful concept that you can build a strategy around.”
Alun Francis, who chairs the Social Mobility Commission, has urged Sir Keir to present a bolder vision
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He argued there was “no overarching narrative” linking the Government’s various policy initiatives together.
The criticism arrives amid mounting pressure on the Government, with close to one million young people currently not engaged in education, employment or training.
Recent official data revealed youth unemployment rose by 85,000 in the three months to October, marking the steepest increase in three years.
Mr Francis offered praise for certain initiatives, including policies on housing, devolution and skills development.
Almost one million young people are currently not engaged in education, employment or training (file photo)
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“We’ve got other policies like growth, educational improvement where we’re just not sure where we’re going,” he said.
Without a comprehensive strategy, Mr Francis warned, ministers would “struggle to address some of those issues and have a clear-headed view about what we might do to improve things.”
The Social Mobility Commission’s annual report, published last week, documented stark geographical inequalities across Britain.
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The Social Mobility Commission’s annual report documented stark geographical inequalities across Britain
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Former industrial and mining communities face the greatest challenges, with the North East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the West Midlands identified as experiencing “enduring disadvantages”.
Mining areas in Wales and Scotland were also highlighted as “notably disadvantaged.”
The report found that a child’s family circumstances continue to heavily influence their educational attainment and future prospects.
Those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds gain less from available opportunities compared to their more privileged peers.
While major cities including Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol are beginning to flourish, the commission noted that opportunities remain “overconcentrated” in these urban centres.
Former Health Secretary Alan Milburn described the situation as “a national outrage a social injustice and an economic catastrophe”.
He has been appointed to lead an investigation into why so many young people find themselves outside work or education.
A spokesman for the Government said: “Nearly 1 million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training – and that number has been rising for four years.
“This is a crisis we cannot ignore, and we have asked Alan Milburn to help us build a system that supports young people and understand the root causes of youth unemployment.
“We are bringing forward the biggest employment reforms in a generation and Alan Milburn’s review will ensure every young person is provided an opportunity to make something of their lives.”