The UK Government has announced the creation of a new Whitehall 'class unit' aimed at addressing social class issues, placing it on par with sex, race, and disability for the first time. Bridget Phillipson, the equalities minister, stated that this initiative is intended to reduce class inequalities and discrimination. The new unit will operate within the Office for Equality and Opportunity and will be tasked with imposing a socio-economic duty on public bodies, requiring them to consider the impacts of their decisions on lower-income families regarding transport, services, and budgets.
The Social Mobility Commission (SMC), which was established in 2010 to promote social mobility in England, will be closed as part of this initiative. The Government indicated that this decision follows a comprehensive review of the SMC's operations and is part of Labour's strategy to expedite change for the public.
Conservative MP Joy Morrissey criticized the plans, arguing that they would impose unnecessary bureaucracy on organizations and detract from growth. She stated, "White working-class boys do not need another Labour quango lecturing them about identity and privilege," and expressed concerns that the socio-economic duty could lead to class conflict.
In response, Ms. Phillipson emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of working-class individuals directly within the government framework. Alun Francis, the chairman of the SMC, raised concerns about the effectiveness of the new unit, describing the concept of class as complex and suggesting that a reformed SMC would have been a more effective approach. He warned that the new unit may lack independence and scrutiny, potentially undermining public confidence in addressing the UK’s social issues.