Dame Martina Milburn tipped for chair of Social Mobility Commission

The education secretary Damian Hinds has put forward Dame Martina Milburn for chair of the Social Mobility Commission (SMC), which has been empty since December when the former chair Alan Milburn resigned. Mr Milburn resigned after roles on the SMC were left vacant for almost two years.

Dame Martina has been chief executive of The Prince’s Trust for 14 years, which supports disadvantaged young people into work, education or training. She is also a non-executive director of the National Citizen Service and the Capital City College group. She was previously chief executive of BBC Children in Need and the Association of Spinal Injury Research, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.

Her appointment as chair is subject to a hearing with the Education Select Committee. Once a chair is appointed, other commissioners can be recruited.

Education secretary Damian Hinds said, ‘Dame Martina has spent her career as a tireless champion for underprivileged children, young people and their families, providing better opportunities for them to fulfil their potential. Her leadership of the Prince’s Trust has improved the education, skills and self-esteem of thousands of young people, and will be key in progressing our social mobility agenda.

‘I am grateful to her predecessor Alan Milburn, whose work as chair of the Commission over five years shone a light on the injustices that still exist too frequently in this country. I look forward to working with Dame Martina as she works with us to eliminate them.

Dame Martina Milburn said, ‘It is a privilege to be put forward to chair the Social Mobility Commission. I hope my experience of working closely with and listening to young people from different backgrounds will help make a difference.’

The news that Dame Martina is the Government's preferred candidate comes after the chair of the Education Select Committee Robert Halfon MP received backing from MPs and Lords to legislate for greater powers for the SMC. As a result, the Bill was given its first reading in Parliament yesterday.

The draft Bill was published by the Committee in March, alongside a report highlighting the ineffectiveness of the SMC, which the Department for Education has today published a response to.

Robert Halfon MP said, 'Our report set out how the Social Mobility Commission could really make a difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged in this country. We called for a beefed-up Commission with the resources, direction and teeth needed to tackle society’s burning injustices but, in its response, the Government has sadly failed to seize this opportunity.

'The Committee will continue to pursue its key themes of ensuring social justice and making sure everyone from whatever background has the opportunity to climb the ladder of opportunity.

'We look forward to our public hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for Chair of the Commission and testing her commitment to tackling social injustice.'