Baroness Garnham named interim chair of Social Mobility Commission

SHOTS Desk · Mon · 2 Nov 2026 · 20:35 · Reported

Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson has appointed Baroness Alison Garnham as commissioner and interim chair of the Social Mobility Commission (SMC), a role she will hold while a permanent chair is selected.

Garnham is currently Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group and a life peer in the House of Lords. She will also serve as an external advisor to the government's new Class Unit, which aims to tackle inequalities faced by working-class families and reduce child poverty.

The Class Unit will sit alongside existing equality units covering race, women, LGBT+ and disability.

Garnham will ensure the SMC fulfils its legal duty until its closure. The previous chair, Alun Francis, ended his term on 31 October 2026. Once a preferred candidate for the permanent chair role is announced, they will face a pre-appointment hearing from the Women and Equalities Committee.

Read it at UK GovernmentSHOTS Desk