The ability for us all to make our ambitions into reality, no matter where we start in life, is a driving force behind much of what I do in Parliament,
Last July I became a Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility. This month this group will conduct an enquiry into fair access to the medical profession.
The British Medical Association recognises that most trainee medics come from professional and managerial backgrounds. Its initiative “widening participation” is designed to “give opportunity to anyone who has the ability and desire, whatever their background”. In short the BMA says “In the UK, medicine and being a doctor has traditionally been seen as a career for the elite or privileged.”
Lack of social mobility is not just an issue in the medical profession. This problem exists in journalism, politics, and the law. In all these professions, those born into professional and managerial families enjoy greater opportunity; those without family connections face barriers. No profession should be out of reach just because of where you come from.
Telford has never had it easy. Telford has always had to fight harder to achieve its dreams. Time and again throughout its proud past Telford has found innovative solutions to overcome the challenges it has faced.
I want Telford to have the same opportunities, as more affluent areas. We have made progress in improving educational achievement in Telford. This is not enough. The fact is no matter how well qualified you are it is still much harder to access certain professions if your background is less advantaged. That is an injustice I want to put right. Progress is being made but there is more to do to ensure that this becomes a reality.
It is a year since I became Telford’s first female MP. I am proud to represent Telford in Parliament and speak up for residents on the issues they tell me matter to them. Constituents' case work is often about overcoming challenges and helping people turn ambition into reality. Telford Parliamentary constituency has pockets of significant deprivation, health disadvantage and life chance inequality. It is important we recognise that these challenges exist if we are to overcome them.
As Telford’s MP, I see improving social mobility, life chances, and education as being vital for Telford's future and I will continue to champion these causes on behalf of those I am honoured to represent.