Former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn is to make a surprise return to front line politics as an independent reviewer on social mobility for the new coalition Government, it has been announced.

The appointment was confirmed by a spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who leads for the Government on issues of social mobility.

In his new role, which is unpaid, Mr Milburn will look at how the policies of major institutions - including the professions, business and government - are contributing towards the goal of a more socially mobile society.

Mr Clegg, who made the appointment, will set out further details in a speech later this week.

However, Mr Milburn faced an angry backlash from former Labour colleagues, with former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott branding him a "collaborator".