Social mobility report ‘reveals worrying divisions in Britain’

The “damning” findings of the review on social mobility highlight the “worrying” social divisions in modern Britain, MPs and charities have warned.

Campaigners said “urgent” action was needed to put a stop to the growing sense of the country becoming “two nations”.

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust charity, said the Social Mobility Commission report was a “stark warning” about the challenge facing the country.

“As the vote in the United States and the Brexit vote showed both here and in the States whole sections of society have been left behind,” he said.

“We agree with the Social Mobility Commission’s report that we need urgent action to stop Britain’s social mobility problem getting even worse.”

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said: “This damning report today from the Government’s own commission on Social Mobility should make for sobering reading for the Tories. Under their government, there’s a growing sense of two nations: the lucky few at the very top and the millions who make up ‘everyone else’.

“Since they came to power in 2010 we have seen our country go backwards on the progress the Labour government made on social mobility.

“The educational attainment gap between lower-income children and their wealthier classmates is getting bigger, and these children still have little chance of going into high-level professions. And under Theresa May we can expect more of the same: grammar schools for a select few, overcrowded classrooms for the many.”

Lib Dem shadow treasury minister Susan Kramer said: “It is truly shocking that in the 21st century young people’s life chances are determined not by their ability but their parents’ wealth. Tackling this must start with Government action. We cannot go on reducing spending on the things young people need without doing serious damage to our society.

“Yet instead of supporting the next generation the Government’s priority is bringing back the deeply divisive 11 plus, while failing to invest in the housing, education and sustainable jobs of the future.”

Brett Wigdortz, founder and CEO of the Teach First charity, said: “The report highlights the worrying divide between communities succeeding and those ‘left behind’. But we know what is possible. In the last 15 years, educational outcomes in London have been radically transformed, driving forward social mobility. We know this potential lies in every part of the country.

“Giving all children a world class education is the foundation of promoting social mobility.”

Labour’s Frank Field, chairman of the Foundation Years Trust, said: “The Social Mobility Commission’s recommendation that the Government should introduce a new parental support package, at key points in a child’s life, recognises the crucial importance of good parenting in determining the outcomes to which our children might aspire.

“This is especially true in the earliest years of life – the foundation years – and the Foundation Years Trust is intervening with parents, during this crucial period, to ensure that more children start school with the best possible chance of succeeding thereafter.”

Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said: “This report lays bare the extent to which the UK’s social mobility problem is deepening and Alan Milburn’s remarks that ‘more child poverty means less social mobility’ make clear the challenge facing the Government.

“If we’re going to help ‘treadmill’ or ‘just managing’ families, then the Government should use next week’s Autumn Statement to reverse the sizeable cuts in Universal Credit, which target these families, rather than carry on spending money on policies that overwhelmingly benefit the better off, like increases in the personal tax allowance.

“The Prime Minister’s fine words must be matched by equally good deeds.”

Anne Longfield, children’s commissioner for England, said: “This report is timely and highlights the disadvantages and obstacles that children growing up in the poorest families face. The picture that has been drawn is a stark one and it underlines the barriers some of the most vulnerable children in our country experience.

“Breaking down these barriers and supporting children to reach their full potential is an essential challenge that must be met. I welcome the recommendations around a package of measures to support families and children at key points in a child’s life, and for help to be available much earlier.

“The Social Mobility Commission has found wide variations within regions in the outcomes of children. I am exploring the experience of young people in the North of England to understand what local factors impact on their wellbeing and choices.

“The project seeks to ensure that devolution and economic regeneration in the North delivers as comprehensively as it can for young people. This has implications for other areas across the country.”

_{Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved.}