Thelma Walker
Main Page: Thelma Walker (Labour - Colne Valley)Department Debates - View all Thelma Walker's debates with the Department for Education
Social Mobility
Thelma Walker Excerpts(7 years, 5 months ago)
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Lucy Powell (Manchester Central) (Lab/Co-op)
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Government policies on social mobility.
It is a pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Mr Pritchard. This debate builds on debates that were called in the previous Parliament. I believe that social mobility—or the lack thereof for the many—is the big issue of our time. It is creating a divided Britain, which not only is bad for our economy and our future, but is the defining issue of our time, as we have seen in recent elections and referendums.
Thelma Walker (Colne Valley) (Lab)
The recent report on social mobility confirmed the points that have been raised about our divided nation. Over the past 20 years we have come to have a new geographical divide, an income divide and a generational divide. The geographical divide is between successful city regions and places such as my constituency of Colne Valley and Kirklees, which have seen a lack of regional investment, leading to cuts that are affecting the most vulnerable. This Government have failed to address social inequality in all three areas.
Lucy Powell
I thank my new hon. Friend for raising those important points, which I will elaborate on further.