Rebecca Smith

Rebecca Smith

Conservative — South West Devon

Speaking in the House of Commons on 11 November 2026

Debate

Child Poverty

Contribution

The Secretary of State recently announced the closure of the independent Social Mobility Commission and its replacement with a Government-run class unit. The commission existed to pose independent challenges to Ministers, whereas the new unit will report to Ministers. Many will conclude that abolishing an independent commission and replacing it with an internal Government body amounts to weakening scrutiny, at precisely the moment when the Government claim to be serious about tackling inequality and child poverty. How can we have confidence in the Government’s assessment of their own performance when the independent body established to provide that assessment has been abolished?

More from Rebecca Smith

Other recent Hansard contributions by the same speaker.

About Hansard

Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.

For Rebecca Smith's full parliamentary record including voting history, expenses and all other contributions, see the Rebecca Smith report card.