FOUND: Alun francis - What They Never Told You

Social mobility is still viewed through a rightwing lens

Letters: John Goldthorpe questions the rationale of the Social Mobility Commission’s latest report, while Chrispher Tanner says that Labour’s focus should be on equality rather than upwards mobility

The Guardian - UK · Dec 25, 2025

Starmer has no coherent social mobility plan, says top government adviser

Exclusive: Warning from Social Mobility Commission chair comes after UK report found ‘entrenched disadvantages’

The Guardian - UK · Dec 21, 2025

Social mobility in UK’s poorest areas ‘falling further behind’

Social mobility commissioner calls for bold action to combat entrenched ‘geography of disadvantage’

The Guardian - UK · Sep 11, 2024

Katharine Birbalsingh quits social mobility role citing ‘too much baggage’

Ms Birbalsingh was appointed chair of the Social Mobility Commission in 2021.

The Independent UK · Jan 6, 2023

Katharine Birbalsingh quits government role as she's doing 'more harm than good'

A UK Government social mobility tsar has quit her role, citing the fact that she comes with “too much baggage” and was doing “more harm than…

The National (Scotland) · Jan 6, 2023

Plans to boost job prospects and transform struggling Oldham's economy unveiled

Bringing in private sector wealth and ending a 'dependence' on public sector jobs are crucial recommendations

Manchester Evening News · Mar 25, 2022

‘Not everyone wants to move to London to make their fortune’ - the Oldham college chief trying to rewrite the rulebook

Alun Francis has just been appointed deputy head of the Social Mobility Commission. He tells the M.E.N. why UK and Greater Manchester policymakers need to think differently

Manchester Evening News · Feb 27, 2022