Privileged education of Rishi Sunak's top team is revealed

2022-10-27

Privileged education of Rishi Sunak’s top team is revealed as it emerges majority of Cabinet went to fee-paying schools

Mr Sunak attended Winchester College near his home town of Southampton
19 of the 31 positions are occupied by those who went to an independent school
The Labour shadow cabinet is packed with those who went to state schools
84 per cent of Keir Starmer’s most senior colleagues went to a comprehensive

The majority of Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet went to fee-paying schools, while nearly half studied at the prestigious Oxbridge universities, analysis shows.

The new Prime Minister continues a recent trend by packing his top team with those who went to independent schools, including his three most senior colleagues: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Mr Sunak himself attended Winchester College near his home town of Southampton, where fees for day students currently cost nearly £34,000 per year.

In total, 19 of the 31 positions in Mr Sunak’s Cabinet are occupied by people who went to an independent school (61 per cent), according to analysis by social mobility charity the Sutton Trust.

Four studied at a grammar school (13 per cent), while seven (23 per cent) went to a state comprehensive – including new Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

The majority of Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet went to fee-paying schools, while nearly half studied at the prestigious Oxbridge universities, analysis shows

One member of the new Cabinet, International Trade Secretary and Women and Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, went to an international school.

The proportion of those attending fee-paying schools is slightly lower than those in Liz Truss’s Cabinet (68 per cent) and Boris Johnson’s first Cabinet (64 per cent). But it is much higher than Theresa May’s 2016 Cabinet (30 per cent).

By comparison, the current Labour shadow cabinet is packed with those who went to state schools.

In fact, 84 per cent of Sir Keir Starmer’s most senior colleagues went to a comprehensive, with just 10 per cent going to a grammar school.

Of those attending Mr Sunak’s maiden Cabinet meeting this week, 45 per cent went to university at either Oxford or Cambridge.

This compares with less than one-third (32 per cent) of the current Labour Shadow Cabinet.

By comparison, the current Labour shadow cabinet is packed with those who went to state schools

Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust, said: ‘Rishi Sunak faces unprecedented challenges as he enters Number 10.

‘While his Cabinet is marginally more representative than Truss’s, Tuesday’s appointments highlight how unevenly spread opportunities to enter the most prestigious positions continue to be.

‘Making the most of Britain’s talent – regardless of background – must be a priority.’

Meanwhile, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘We have nothing against private education – and represent independent school leaders – but it is important that our political leaders come from socially diverse backgrounds and understand the needs and life experiences of the public.

‘We are pleased, however, that the new Education Secretary Gillian Keegan not only went to a state school, but then went on to complete an apprenticeship, which gives her a good understanding of the importance of a skills agenda which will benefit many young people and the future of the country.’

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