The chair of the government's own advisory body has issued a stark warning that Prime Minister Keir Starmer lacks a "coherent" strategy to tackle the deep-rooted inequalities blighting the life chances of millions across the UK.
A Warning from the Watchdog
In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Alun Francis, who leads the Social Mobility Commission (SMC), said that while the government talks frequently about social mobility, it is failing to build a practical strategy around the concept. "What we don't have is a coherent approach to social mobility as a useful concept that you can build a strategy around," Francis stated. He urged the Prime Minister to outline a bold vision to address what he called "the defining social mobility challenge of our generation."
This criticism follows the SMC's major annual report published last week, which painted a bleak picture of "entrenched disadvantages" in Britain's former industrial heartlands. The report found that while major cities like Manchester, Edinburgh, and Bristol are thriving, opportunities remain "over-concentrated," leaving young adults in other regions behind due to poorer childhoods and fewer quality jobs.
The Scale of the Crisis
The commission's findings are compounded by alarming new official statistics. The data shows an increase of 85,000 young people unemployed in the three months to October, marking the sharpest rise in youth unemployment for three years. Nearly one million individuals aged 16-24 are now classified as Neet – not in education, employment, or training.
The risk of becoming Neet is more than double for those from disadvantaged backgrounds with low qualifications. Geographically, the problem is most acute in the north-east and north-west of England, followed by the East and West Midlands. Former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who will lead a new review into the crisis, described the situation as a "national outrage ... a social injustice and an economic catastrophe."
Policy Gaps and Political Risks
Francis acknowledged some positive government moves on devolution and housing but criticised other areas as "stop-start." He pointed to welfare reform and growth policies, stating, "We're just not sure where we're going." While he noted Labour's skills and industrial strategies were a step forward, he warned there was "no overarching narrative" to unify these policy strands into an effective whole.
He also raised a significant political concern: that without a clear, universal definition, the mission of social mobility risks being swallowed up by Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) agendas. This is a policy area that parties like Nigel Farage's Reform UK have labelled "woke" and pledged to dismantle. "[Social mobility] isn't really a DEI policy," Francis argued. "It's more about an economic and social policy that's about bringing the benefits to everybody."
Francis, appointed in January 2023, blamed successive governments for a focus on "quick fixes" and Westminster's frenetic pace, leading to "constant changes of direction." He concluded that without a guiding narrative on social mobility, policy remains a collection of disconnected parts.
A government spokesperson responded, highlighting the ongoing crisis and the commissioning of Alan Milburn's review. They stated: "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."
