Britain could become a “permanently divided nation” unless all political parties make general election pledges to reduce child poverty and improve social mobility, government advisers warn today.

Research by the Commission on Social Mobility and Child Poverty uncovered a “postcode lottery” in whether people can improve their life chances through education and work. Social mobility “cold spots” with poor prospects include the East of England around the Wash, coastal areas of the South East and the old industrial areas of the North and Midlands, where high employment has masked very low educational attainment.

In contrast, London is classed a social mobility “hotspot” because high educational attainment levels and a buoyant labour market have offset high rates of child poverty.

Election Analysis: The Key Voters Show all 6 1 /6 Election Analysis: The Key Voters Election Analysis: The Key Voters Settled Silvers These are the comfortably-off over-60s, still in work or drawing a decent pension – or both – who are enjoying their entitlements such as the Winter Fuel Allowance, free bus passes and free TV licence. They are worried about immigration and Europe. Both the Conservatives – who are pledging to keep benefits for wealthier pensioners – and Ukip want their votes Micha Theiner Election Analysis: The Key Voters Squeezed Semis Slightly older than the Harassed Hipsters, they are the second key group for Labour’s family-focused election strategy. They are married couples on low to middle incomes who own unpretentious semi-detached homes in suburban areas. In 2001, these were the Pebbledash People sought by the Conservatives. Now the pebbledash is gone and a modest conservatory has been built at the back Micha Theiner Election Analysis: The Key Voters Aldi Woman In 1997 and 2001 she was Worcester Woman – a middle-class Middle Englander shopping at Marks & Spencer and Waitrose. Today, the age of austerity means she still goes to Waitrose for her basic food shop but cannily switches to Aldi for her luxury bargains such as Parma ham and prosecco. Identified by Caroline Flint, she is a key target of both Labour and the Conservatives Micha Theiner Election Analysis: The Key Voters Glass Ceiling Woman In her thirties or forties, she has an established career under her belt, perhaps in the “marzipan layer” – one position below the still male-dominated senior executive level. She is now, according to Nick Clegg, forced into making the “heart-breaking choice” between staying at home to bring up her children and going to work and forking out for high-cost, round-the-clock childcare Election Analysis: The Key Voters Harassed Hipsters One of the two key groups identified by Labour as crucial to hand Ed Miliband the keys to Downing Street. Well-paid professional couples, often with children, they live in diverse urban and metropolitan areas rather than the suburbs. More comfortably off than most swing voters, they are time poor – struggling to balance raising a young family with busy work schedules Micha Theiner Election Analysis: The Key Voters Neo-Greens These are mainly first-time voters, though some are in their twenties – students and digital-age generation renters helping to fuel the “Green Surge”. Idealists, but with no tribal loyalty to any party, they are anti-austerity, middle class, living in urban areas. Despite studying at university or recently graduated, they are struggling to find decent jobs and want cheaper housing and a higher minimum wage Micha Theiner

Alan Milburn, the former Labour minister who chairs the commission, and Baroness (Gillian) Shephard, its Conservative vice-chairman, said progress in addressing child poverty and social mobility has been too limited and too slow. In a joint message to all political parties, they said: “Urgent action and renewed energy is needed now if the challenges of the fiscal deficit and deep-seated changes in the labour and housing markets are not to result in Britain becoming a permanently divided nation.”

They warned that this would be “particularly catastrophic” for two groups – those living in the “cold spots” and the “credit crunch generation” born after 2008.

Mr Milburn and Lady Shephard said: “So far the 2015 election campaign has seen politicians of all parties ducking the challenge of setting out in detail how they would avoid these pitfalls in an age of austerity. The economy and health have dominated, with mobility and poverty issues being treated as a side-show. Too little debate now means potentially lots of bad decisions later, and the real risk that whoever is in 10 Downing Street in May will consign progress on mobility and poverty to the ‘too difficult’ pile.