Many feeling left behind, says survey
SOCIETY: The Government is facing calls to step up efforts to tackle Britain’s “us and them” society, as new figures reveal widespread pessimism about opportunities for social mobility in northern communities.
A report has found almost half of people in Yorkshire believe a person’s background will determine their future.
THE GOVERNMENT is facing calls to step up efforts to tackle Britain’s “us and them” society, as new figures reveal widespread pessimism about opportunities for social mobility in northern communities.
The latest report from the Government’s independent advisory body has found that almost half of people in Yorkshire believe a person’s background will determine their future, with experts describing the results as a “wake up call” for politicians.
The findings published today come off the back of previous research which named Scarborough, Doncaster and Barnsley as among the worst areas of the UK for social mobility. Social Mobility Commission chairman Alan Milburn said the figures expose “a deep geographic lottery in Britain today”, tackling which must become a “domestic priority”.
“Britain’s deep social mobility problem, for this generation of young people in particular, is getting worse not better,” Mr Milburn said. “The research exposes a deep geographic lottery in Britain today where large majorities of people from the regions feel they have been left behind.
“The growing sense that we have become a divided ‘Us and Them’ society is deeply corrosive of our cohesion as a nation.
“Cracking Britain’s social mobility problem has to become its defining domestic priority. That will require deep-seated social reform.”
The new commission report, which tests public attitudes to social mobility, reveals that less than a third of people surveyed in Yorkshire believed everyone has a fair chance in life regardless of their background. In contrast, 48 per cent of respondents said a person’s prospects in life are “mainly determined by your background and who your parents were”.
A total of 70 per cent thought opportunities varied depending where in the country someone lives. with 44 per cent stating op- portunities for people to progress in Yorkshire are “poor”. And generationally, just over half of 18 to 24-year-olds said chances of success were determined by social background, compared to 40 per cent of over 65s.
Responding to the report, a Department for Education spokesman said: “This Government is committed to making sure that Britain is a country that works for everyone. We want to make sure everyone can get a world-class education at every stage of their life and that everyone can go as far as their talents will take them, whatever their background.”
Cracking Britain’s social mobility problem has to be a priority. Social Mobility Commission chairman Alan Milburn