130 universities in UK: Half of new Cabinet studied at Oxford or Cambridge
Almost half of Boris Johnson’s new Cabinet went to Oxford or Cambridge universities while over 60 per cent attended a private school.
New Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Housing Secretary Michael Gove and Chancellor Rishi Sunak all attended Oxford University.
Moreover, one in four of all Conservative MPs studied at one of the two prestigious universities, according to research that was sent to Morning Wire this morning.
The percentage privately educated Cabinet members is down slightly on the Prime Minister’s previous cabinets, data from social mobility charity Sutton Trust suggested. The figure was 64 per cent in his first Cabinet in 2019, and 65 per cent in a 2020 reshuffle.
In its analysis of the educational background of the new Cabinet announced yesterday, the trust said the 2021 percentage for private education compares to 29 per cent when it comes to all MPs in the House of Commons.
The Sutton Trust said there has been a slight increase in the proportion of the new Cabinet educated at comprehensives, from 27 per cent last year to a third now.
While 46 per cent of those in the latest Cabinet studied at Oxford or Cambridge, the figure compares with 27 per cent of all Conservative MPs, 18 per cent of Labour MPs and 24 per cent of all MPs.
The trust said just over a quarter of Cabinet ministers attended both independent schools and Oxbridge.
The trust said its analysis includes 30 ministers and assumes Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg and Attorney General Suella Braverman will attend Cabinet.