Labour’s cabinet would be Britain’s most state-educated since 1945
But its schools policy appears less radical than the class rhetoric suggests
IF THE labour party wins the next election, its government will be notable in one respect. Our review of the shadow cabinet’s biographies suggests that four people, or 13%, of its 31 members attended independent schools. Barring a big reshuffle, that would make it the cabinet with the most state-educated members since at least 1945. Rishi Sunak’s first cabinet in October 2022 was 61% privately educated, based on a tally by the Sutton Trust, an educational charity. Sir Tony Blair’s first cabinet was 32%, while Harold Wilson’s was 35% and Clement Attlee’s 25%. Under 7% of pupils are taught privately.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Class struggle”
Britain July 8th 2023
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