Bridget Phillipson, the UK's equalities minister, is expected to announce plans to make social class a priority for public bodies alongside existing priorities like sex, race, and disability. A new Whitehall unit will be established within the Office for Equality and Opportunity to enforce a "socio-economic duty" that requires public bodies to improve outcomes for lower-income families. The unit's creation is expected to lead to changes in how government assesses areas of deprivation, with some Cabinet Office officials transferring from the Social Mobility Commission. Conservative MP Joy Morrissey has criticized the plan, warning that it will impose more bureaucracy and divide people into competing groups rather than promoting aspiration.
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Story summary
The British government is setting up a new unit in Whitehall to address socioeconomic inequalities, which will impose a "socioeconomic duty" on public bodies, requiring them to consider how to improve the lives of lower-income families. This move is part of a broader overhaul of the equalities agenda led by Bridget Phillipson, the equalities minister. The new unit will sit alongside other units focused on race, gender, LGBT and disability rights, and will be responsible for data analysis on class and socioeconomic background. The Social Mobility Commission, which was established in 2010, is expected to close as part of these plans. The Tories have criticized the move, with some arguing that it will involve "another Labour quango lecturing" white working-class boys, who they claim don't need such support. However, the government's reforms aim to place social class on a par with other protected characteristics like sex and race for the first time.
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The Tories today warned white working-class boys 'don't need another Labour quango lecturing them' as the Government overhauls its equalities agenda.
Bridget Phillipson, the equalities minister, is expected to announce plans to place social class on a par with sex, race and disability for the first time.
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Phillipson → see → time
Her reforms are also set to establish a new Whitehall unit to improve outcomes for lower-income families.
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reforms → set → families
Sitting within the Office for Equality and Opportunity, it is thought the new unit will impose a socio-economic duty on public bodies.
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unit → sit → bodies
This will legally require them to consider how to improve the lives of lower-income families and change the way Government assesses areas of deprivation.
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Government → require → deprivation
The Social Mobility Commission, launched in 2010 and previously known as the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, is expected to close as part of the plans.
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Commission → launch → plans
Bridget Phillipson, the equalities minister, is expected to announce plans to place social class on a par with sex, race and disability for the first time
It was established to assess progress in improving social mobility in the UK and to promote social mobility in England.
Conservative MP Joy Morrissey, the shadow equalities minister, criticised the reported plans and warned against pushing 'more bureaucracy' on organisations.
She said: 'White working-class boys do not need another Labour quango lecturing them about identity and privilege.
'
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quango → expect → identity
A socioeconomic duty will simply drag businesses and public bodies into yet more bureaucracy, hamper growth and encourage class warfare instead of aspiration.
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duty → drag → aspiration
'Socialism does not create prosperity or equality; it divides people into competing groups and leaves everyone poorer.'
Ms Morrissey added the Tories would 'abolish this duty and restore meritocracy to the heart of public life'.
The establishment of the new unit, first reported by The Times, will be the first time a government has specifically created a dedicated Whitehall team to reduce class inequalities and discrimination.
It is expected to sit alongside similar units covering race, gender, LGBT and disability rights.
A Government source told the newspaper the new unit would be a 'centre of excellence' for data analysis on class, socioeconomic background, public services and outcomes.
Some of those Cabinet Office officials who currently support the work of the Social Mobility Commission are said to be transferring to the new unit.
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who → create → unit
