Jo Platt

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I congratulate and thank my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Andrew Ranger) for bringing this really important debate to the House. Growing up in Salford, I saw how regional inequality limits opportunity. My journey to Parliament involved luck and being in the right place at the right time, but opportunity should never be a lottery. As the MP for Leigh and Atherton, I am proud to serve in a Government where 92% of the Cabinet is state educated, yet background still shapes outcomes. Too often, talent is overlooked because someone did not attend the right school or speak with the right accent. Professionals from working-class backgrounds still face a pay gap. That is not just unfair; it is a drag on our economy. Careers education is vital, but we must look beyond the classroom. Leigh ranks in the top 1% for transport-related social exclusion. Poor connectivity limits access to jobs, education and services, trapping people in poverty. Education alone is not enough. Systemic barriers such as financial constraints, discrimination and limited mobility continue to hold people back. Although 81% of employers value outreach, more must be done. Expanding free school meals for families on universal credit is a huge step forward, but a degree no longer guarantees success. Apprenticeships, internships and work experience are now essential. I served my time on an apprenticeship, which got me a fantastic career in marketing, so I cannot promote them enough—they are a vital part of social mobility. Initiatives such as the MBacc in Greater Manchester are helping to unlock local talent and boost productivity. Improving social mobility could add £1.8 billion to the UK’s business profits annually. Failing to act costs us £19 billion a year. Last week, I hosted the launch of the Social Mobility Alliance in Parliament, and one voice stood out: Salma from Sheffield, an Oxford student who spoke about the hidden financial barriers to university applications. Opportunity must be built into the fabric of our society, not left to chance. If we want to unlock the full potential of our communities, we must tackle child poverty and ensure that every young person, regardless of background, can thrive.