Nick Clegg sets up an independent Commission on Social Mobility.

6.18.00pm GMT Mon 7th Jan 2008

Good schools can speed social mobility

Local Liberal Democrats have praised new party leader Nick Clegg's decision to set up an independent Commission on Social Mobility.

The commission, to be chaired by Martin Narey, Chief Executive of Barnardo's, will recommend policy changes to enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to realise their full potential.

Current evidence suggests that social mobility is currently lower in the UK than in most western democracies.

"This is an urgent issue, and just the sort of thing our new leader should be addressing," said Gareth Davies, press officer for the Buckingham constituency LibDems.

Nick Clegg said: "In 2007, a child born into deprivation is more likely to inherit his or her parents' disadvantage than at any time in our recent past.

"It is utterly unacceptable that by the age of seven, a bright but poor child will be overtaken at school by a child who was struggling in pre-school years but is from a more affluent background.

"I want to know why it is that Britain's low levels of social mobility compare unfavourably with almost every other developed nation. Children should be free to realise their aspirations and not be held back by the circumstances of their birth."

The commission, which will be entirely independent, will investigate the reasons for Britain's apparently low levels of social mobility. It will be expected to report to Nick Clegg by the end of 2008.

The Liberal Democrats will consider how to take forward its recommendations as party policy but the commission's report and conclusions will also be published and be available to all political parties.