What more can be done to improve the life chances of disadvantaged children

Today I participated in one of the best debates I have joined since being elected. It didn’t make the news probably because there was all party support for the work that Frank Field MP has undertaken for the new Coalition government. There are few subjects that are of greater interest to the new MPs than how we can improve the opportunities for children from the poorest backgrounds to reach their potential. It’s a pity the public do not see the expertise and commitment that MPs and the ‘new intake’ in particular are bringing to their work in parliament. Frustratingly while understandable the media’s interest in presenting the differences denies the public seeing how constructively parliament can work sometimes.