A new government unit focused on class issues has been announced by Bridget Phillipson, the minister for women and equalities. Phillipson argued that Britain has been too hesitant to address class in policy, and the government plans to replace the Social Mobility Commission with a new class unit under the Office for Equality and Opportunity. This unit will focus on low-income families and disadvantaged communities, aiming to tackle inequalities in public services, health, employment, and help implement a legal requirement for public bodies to consider disadvantage in major decisions. Class has long been a topic of debate in British politics, though it has often been approached through the concept of social mobility. This idea focuses on helping individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds climb the social ladder. Much of this work has been handled by the Social Mobility Commission, an independent body that monitors and reports on social mobility. While the commission has produced valuable research, its lack of authority to enforce government action has been a key weakness. The shift from social mobility to a more direct focus on class could be significant. While current equality policies often emphasize recognition—such as representation and status—this approach has not addressed the deeper issue of wealth distribution. Similarly, despite decades of focus on social mobility, there has been little improvement in intergenerational income mobility. Many programs aimed at helping disadvantaged individuals may appear to address inequality but often leave the underlying structures of wealth and power unchanged. The new class unit could shift the focus from access to elite institutions to broader issues like wages, work, housing, and health. This approach might connect various issues that are often treated separately, such as children's outcomes, poverty, and health disparities. However, the government's definition of class remains unclear. While Phillipson has emphasized income and economic disadvantage, class also includes factors like occupation, family resources, and access to power. Focusing solely on income may not fully address the root causes of inequality. There is also a risk that framing class through the lens of the "white working class" could deepen divisions. While some communities have been neglected due to weak public services and insecure jobs, this does not mean that minority ethnic groups are responsible for these issues. Emphasizing one group over others could risk turning people with shared interests into competitors, which could undermine efforts to address inequality collectively. The true test of the new class unit will be whether it leads to a better understanding of inequality and improved outcomes for all people in society.