Andy Burnham urged to establish cabinet-level children and families unit

A leading think-tank founded by former Children’s Commissioner for England Baroness Anne Longfield has urged new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to establish a dedicated cabinet-level children and families unit. The proposal aims to address rising levels of childhood vulnerability and provide strategic oversight for the growing numbers of disadvantaged children across the country. The recommended unit would sit at the heart of government, ensuring that children's interests are represented at the highest level of decision-making. This move would recognise the complex challenges facing families today, from poverty and mental health concerns to educational inequality, coordinating cross-departmental responses to support vulnerable young people effectively. Baroness Longfield’s intervention highlights continuing concerns about the fragmentation of children’s policy across Whitehall. By calling for cabinet-level focus, the think-tank seeks to ensure that supporting disadvantaged children becomes a central priority for the new administration, rather than being dispersed across multiple departments.