Equalities minister announces new class unit to tackle social mobility
Bridget Phillipson launches a government class unit to address class-based inequality, replacing the Social Mobility Commission.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The Equalities Minister, Bridget Phillipson, has announced the creation of a new class unit within government, designed to put class at the heart of the equalities agenda. The unit will aim to tackle class-based disparities, with a particular focus on white working class inequality, which has been highlighted in education surveys as a persistent barrier to opportunity.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Phillipson said: "We've been squeamish about class for too long, yet we know it is a deep barrier to opportunity." The announcement includes a socio-economic duty, an amendment to the Equality Act, which will require public bodies to take class into account when making decisions on areas such as transport, health, and education.
The new unit replaces the Social Mobility Commission, which was founded in 2016. Critics have noted that the commission had no power to affect change and appeared to have little influence on government policy over the past decade. The government's own announcement acknowledged this lack of impact.
Reaction to the plan has been mixed. Some welcome the focus on class, arguing that it has been neglected in favour of other characteristics such as gender and ethnicity. Rosie, a panellist on Politics Live, said: "In my constituency, class is the biggest barrier to opportunity," and pointed to the poor results of white working class boys in her area.
Others, however, question the use of the term "class" itself. Andy, another panellist, said: "I'm really worried about use of the word class. It's utterly meaningless." He argued that the real issue is poverty of resources and aspiration, and that labelling people as victims can deter ambition. He cited scientific studies suggesting that telling people society is against them can backfire.
On 5 News, Marnie Swindles, winner of The Apprentice in 2023, also expressed caution. She said: "I think the government's approach might be moving in the wrong direction to narrow it down to just a white working class." She argued that the working class includes many different people and that a broader approach is needed. She also warned against the power of labels, saying: "I think labeling people as the working class in itself is very debilitating, very demotivating."
The government insists the unit will help deliver on its promise that "whatever your background, wherever you're from, ours is a country where you'll be able to get on." The socio-economic duty is expected to make a real difference across all government departments, but questions remain about how it will be implemented and resourced.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC Two |
|---|---|---|
| Class is a major barrier to opportunity, particularly in education, where white working class boys are being left behind. | ||
| The government is establishing a new unit to address white working class inequality. | ||
| A new class unit will require public bodies to consider socio-economic status. | · | |
| Class was described as the biggest barrier to opportunity in some areas, especially in education. | · | |
| Collecting data on class is challenging because individuals describe their class differently. | · | |
| Surveys indicate white working class boys are falling behind in education. | · | |
| The equalities minister stated that class is a significant barrier to opportunity. | · | |
| The Social Mobility Commission was abolished because it lacked the power to bring about change. | · | |
| The Social Mobility Commission, established in 2016, lacked the power to effect change. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
5 News focused on the government's plan to prioritise white working class inequality, framing it as a response to education surveys showing white working class boys being left behind. The channel featured an interview with Marnie Swindles, who criticised the narrow focus on one demographic and argued for a grassroots approach rather than top-down government intervention.
- “I think the government's approach might be moving in the wrong direction to narrow it down to just a white working class.”
- “I think labeling people as the working class in itself is very debilitating, very demotivating.”
- “I think we need to get on the ground, get into a grassroots level to really make change.”
BBC Two's Politics Live focused on the mechanics of the new class unit, including the socio-economic duty and the scrapping of the Social Mobility Commission. The panel debated the definition of class, with one member arguing the term is meaningless and another welcoming the focus on class as a barrier to opportunity.
- “We've been squeamish about class for too long, yet we know it is a deep barrier to opportunity.”
- “I'm really worried about use of the word class. It's utterly meaningless.”
- “The Social Mobility Commission, which was founded in 2016, in the government's own announcement, they said it had no power to affect any change.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.