The UK government, by launching a new class unit led by Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equality, has declared its goal to tackle social inequalities. Phillipson has emphasized that the UK has long been distant from confronting class issues, and now is the time to change this approach.
Past and Future Challenges
Class issues have never disappeared from the policy-making agenda in the UK, but in recent decades, they have been examined more through the lens of social mobility. For example, the Social Mobility Commission, which is an independent advisory body, has monitored and reported on this issue. However, a key weakness of this commission was that it could not compel the government to take action.
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Now, the government intends to dissolve this commission and transfer the work to the Office for Equality and Opportunities. The new class unit will focus on low-income families and affected communities and will examine inequalities in public services, health, and employment.
Impact on Social Policies
Many discussions of equality and diversity have been linked to identities such as race, gender, and disability. These inequalities are very important, but the emphasis on recognition and representation, according to political theorist Nancy Fraser, has been more about the distribution of material resources. This approach has easily found its place in a neoliberal system built on deep economic inequalities.
By launching the new class unit, the government can shift the conversation from social mobility to more material issues such as wages, work, housing, and economic security. This change could bring questions related to income, wealth, and power from the margins to the center of discussions.
However, another question arises: what definition does the government have of class? In an interview, Phillipson placed significant emphasis on income and economic inequality. While increasing income can alleviate troubles, changing fundamental inequalities requires a more comprehensive approach.
Overall, the establishment of the new class unit could lead to a transformation in social policies, but it remains to be seen whether these changes will genuinely end inequalities or merely lead to superficial improvements.
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