Baroness Alison Garnham appointed interim Chair of the Social Mobility Commission

news 3 Nov 2026

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The Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson, has announced Baroness Alison Garnham as the new commissioner and interim Chair to the Social Mobility Commission.

Baroness Garnham will ensure the Commission is fulfilling its legal duty until its closure and use her lifetime of expertise as an external advisor to the Class Unit.

Alison Garnham is currently the Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and a life peer in the House of Lords. She previously served as CEO of the Daycare Trust and the Director of Policy at One Parent Families (now Gingerbread).

The previous Chair, Alun Francis, ended his term on 31 October 2026. The Minister has thanked Alun on behalf of the Government for the work he and the board of commissioners have completed.

Read the full press release on gov.uk.

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