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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Former social mobility chief condemns government record | Former social mobility chief condemns government record |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Alan Milburn says ministers lack ability and willingness to deliver on ‘crunch issue for our country’ | Alan Milburn says ministers lack ability and willingness to deliver on ‘crunch issue for our country’ |
| Sally Weale Education correspondent | Sally Weale Education correspondent |
| Tue 23 Jan 2018 15.53 GMT | Tue 23 Jan 2018 15.53 GMT |
| Last modified on Wed 24 Jan 2018 10.35 GMT | |
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| The government’s record on social mobility has been condemned by its former key adviser on the issue, who accused ministers of lacking both the ability and willingness to deliver on what he described as “the crunch issue for our country”. | The government’s record on social mobility has been condemned by its former key adviser on the issue, who accused ministers of lacking both the ability and willingness to deliver on what he described as “the crunch issue for our country”. |
| Alan Milburn, who was until recently chair of the Social Mobility Commission, was giving evidence to MPs on the Commons education committee in his first high-profile appearance since he and his colleagues resigned en masse in December in protest against the government’s lack of progress. | Alan Milburn, who was until recently chair of the Social Mobility Commission, was giving evidence to MPs on the Commons education committee in his first high-profile appearance since he and his colleagues resigned en masse in December in protest against the government’s lack of progress. |
| During the hearing, he painted a picture of a government that proclaimed its commitment to social mobility but whose focus had drifted to a point where ministers seemed incapable of delivering meaningful change in the face of the onerous demands of Brexit. | During the hearing, he painted a picture of a government that proclaimed its commitment to social mobility but whose focus had drifted to a point where ministers seemed incapable of delivering meaningful change in the face of the onerous demands of Brexit. |
| Milburn, a former Labour minister, and his commission deputy, former Tory education secretary Gillian Shephard, told MPs at Tuesday’s hearing that the government had become increasingly disengaged with the commission and its work. | Milburn, a former Labour minister, and his commission deputy, former Tory education secretary Gillian Shephard, told MPs at Tuesday’s hearing that the government had become increasingly disengaged with the commission and its work. |
| The number of commissioners dwindled from the original 10 to just four and when applicants were put forward to replace those who had left, it took the government a year to decide that none of the candidates were suitable. “It was a bit of a farcical process,” said Milburn. | The number of commissioners dwindled from the original 10 to just four and when applicants were put forward to replace those who had left, it took the government a year to decide that none of the candidates were suitable. “It was a bit of a farcical process,” said Milburn. |
| While the commission had enjoyed the full backing and engagement of the coalition government, thanks to the personal commitment of the then deputy minister, Nick Clegg, who set it up, by the time Theresa May took over as prime minister following the referendum “there was no conversation, there was no response,” Milburn said. | |
| “All of that dissipated and I’m afraid it became increasingly obvious there was disengagement,” he said. “The words were there; there was a question about whether the deeds were. Where there should have been clarity, there was ambiguity. It got worse post-2017 election, of that there is absolutely no doubt.” | “All of that dissipated and I’m afraid it became increasingly obvious there was disengagement,” he said. “The words were there; there was a question about whether the deeds were. Where there should have been clarity, there was ambiguity. It got worse post-2017 election, of that there is absolutely no doubt.” |
| Milburn said he did not doubt the prime minister’s personal commitment to social justice but said there was not the level of commitment or ability in government to ensure it was delivered. | Milburn said he did not doubt the prime minister’s personal commitment to social justice but said there was not the level of commitment or ability in government to ensure it was delivered. |
| There had been good initiatives, he said, and “some good ministers trying to do the right thing”, but he added: “It didn’t seem that the government had either the ability or the willingness to put their collective shoulders to the wheel when it came to delivering social mobility.” | There had been good initiatives, he said, and “some good ministers trying to do the right thing”, but he added: “It didn’t seem that the government had either the ability or the willingness to put their collective shoulders to the wheel when it came to delivering social mobility.” |
| Whitehall’s attention was focused instead on the “fiercely complex” Brexit negotiations. “The conclusion, certainly I reached, is that unfortunately the government lacked the headspace and the bandwidth to really match the rhetoric of healing social division with the reality. | Whitehall’s attention was focused instead on the “fiercely complex” Brexit negotiations. “The conclusion, certainly I reached, is that unfortunately the government lacked the headspace and the bandwidth to really match the rhetoric of healing social division with the reality. |
| “It is the crunch issue for our country, there is a social crisis in the country, we ought to understand that and do something about it. But in the end, there is only so long you can go on pushing water uphill.” | “It is the crunch issue for our country, there is a social crisis in the country, we ought to understand that and do something about it. But in the end, there is only so long you can go on pushing water uphill.” |
| Shephard said she felt more optimistic than Milburn about the government’s future capacity to deliver on its promises to create a fairer society. Flagging up May’s recent decision to create a minister for loneliness, she said: “This has been widely praised across the board. But there’s no reason why social mobility should not be given the same treatment as loneliness. It’s just as important.” | Shephard said she felt more optimistic than Milburn about the government’s future capacity to deliver on its promises to create a fairer society. Flagging up May’s recent decision to create a minister for loneliness, she said: “This has been widely praised across the board. But there’s no reason why social mobility should not be given the same treatment as loneliness. It’s just as important.” |
| The commission’s most recent report last month warned of a “striking geographical divide”, with London and its surrounding areas pulling away while many other parts of the country are left behind. The government has said a new chair will be appointed following an open application process. | The commission’s most recent report last month warned of a “striking geographical divide”, with London and its surrounding areas pulling away while many other parts of the country are left behind. The government has said a new chair will be appointed following an open application process. |
| Social mobility | Social mobility |
| Access to university | |
| Higher education | |
| Students | |
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