Esther McVey: Social mobility requires a fair and open society

Feb 1 2012

PARLIAMENT is an intriguing place and how you organise your time and focus is important.

Of course constituency work comes first, working on behalf of the residents who write, call and see you on a daily basis.

Added to that and running alongside, are the key debates of the day, dictated by the government’s agenda, and here you must represent your constituents too.

On top of that, some MP’s have areas of specialist knowledge, where they can lead the charge.

I’m delighted to say I’ve been helping to lead the debates on social mobility, career guidance and corporate governance.

The first of which, social mobility has been accepted as one of the cornerstones of the Coalition Government’s agenda, and this week, the Speaker in acknowledgment of my work is hosting an event for me, bringing together an array of people on this matter.

Social mobility requires a fair and open society, where everyone is free to flourish and where life opportunities are not narrowed by the circumstances of birth.

There is no silver bullet to advance social mobility.

So the coalition, through a whole series of interventions across a person’s lifetime will support this goal; from Louise Casey’s ‘Troubled’ families action plan, to increasing early years support to two, three and four-year- olds, the pupil premium, University Technical Colleges (Wirral and Merseyside will have some of the first) to the biggest back to work programme and tailored support.

So I’m delighted I’m playing my part in this vital area.