Theresa May accused of breaking vow to end 'burning injustices' after leaving a poverty watchdog empty for at least six months
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Theresa May is accused of breaking her vow to end “burning injustices” after leaving a poverty watchdog empty for at least six months.
The Prime Minister has still not replaced her Social Mobility Commission after the entire team dramatically quit in December.
Alan Milburn quit as Commission chairman, along with his three fellow commissioners, saying he had “little hope” of a fairer Britain.
Now ministers have admitted they will only interview candidates to replace him in “early May”.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
And the other Commissioners will only be recruited after the new chair has been chosen - suggesting a delay of months more.
Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said the delay “tells us everything we need to know about the Tories’ real priorities.”
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She added: “It is hard to escape the suspicion that they are desperate to avoid being held to account on their own promises.
“I warn them now that another government crony simply will not command confidence or respect.”
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Ms Rayner obtained confirmation of the delay from Tory Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi.
Mr Zahawi wrote: “The recruitment of a new Chair of the Social Mobility Commission is underway and applications closed on 30 March.
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“Interviews are intended to take place in early May. This is a public appointment, and the process, including the interviews, will be completed following the procedures set out in the Public Appointments guidance.
“We plan to begin the recruitment process for new Commissioners as soon as possible after the new Chair has been appointed, to allow him or her to be involved in the process.”
Former Labour minister Mr Milburn resigned complaining the government did not have the “bandwith” to match its promises with reality.
He wrote in his resignation letter: “I have little hope of the current Government making the progress I believe is necessary to bring about a fairer Britain.”