Milburn poised for Government social mobility role

The announcement is expected to be made this week by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Downing Street would not be drawn on the reports, although it was confirmed Mr Clegg would be talking about social mobility issues in a speech later in the week.

But Liberal Democrat deputy leader, Simon Hughes, welcomed the appointment, describing Mr Milburn as "a good, intelligent guy".

He added: "I think we have got to be non-partisan and non-tribal about these things and if good people are willing to work for the Government, whatever their background, they should be welcomed."

If Mr Milburn does take up the post, he will be the third prominent Labour figure to be taken on by the new coalition Government in an advisory role.

Former Cabinet Minister John Hutton is conducting a review of public sector pensions, while backbencher Frank Field is leading a review on tackling poverty.

Mr Milburn was regarded as an arch Blairite who clashed repeatedly with Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor. When Mr Brown became Prime Minister, he brought back Mr Milburn – who had by that time left the Cabinet – as chairman of his Social Mobility Commission.

In his report published last July, Mr Milburn came up with a series of recommendations aimed at breaking down the "closed shop mentality" which was preventing young people from disadvantaged backgrounds entering some professions.

But the suggestion he could work with the coalition Government was bitterly condemned by former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

"So after Field & Hutton, Milburn becomes the 3rd collaborator," he wrote on his Twitter page. "They collaborated to get Brown OUT. Now collaborating to keep Cameron IN."

And Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham, who was in Gateshead and Mr Milburn's former seat of Darlington yesterday as part of a UK tour, said of the reports: "If this is true, Alan Milburn is putting his ego and his own social mobility above the people he used to represent here in the North East, the very people who will be hit hardest by the ConDems' brutal cuts to public services.

"Joining a government that is taking hope away from young people...is no way to increase social mobility, and it is no way to treat the good people who voted for a Labour candidate and who now, more than ever, need Labour to stand up for them."