How May gave more state pupils the reins
HIS Cabinets were derided by critics as being the preserve of the Old Boys Network, stuffed full of alumni of Eton and Oxbridge.
Even the Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister in David Cameron’s initial coalition Cabinet, had attended Westminster before going on to Cambridge.
Now – as the debate over the reintroduction of grammar schools continues – an analysis has shown that there are far more state educated members of the Cabinet under Theresa May than there were under Mr Cameron.
has found that 18 members of Mrs May’s Cabinet received a state school education, compared with 10 in Mr Cameron’s last Cabinet. There are just five independent school-educated Cabinet members now, compared with 10 under Mr Cameron.
The analysis would also appear to explain why opinion in the Government is running in favour of the return of grammar schools.
Mr Cameron’s Cabinet contained just two grammar school-educated members – Mrs May herself, who attended Holton Park Girls’ Grammar School in Wheatley, Oxfordshire, and Chris Grayling, who attended the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe.
But the Cabinet appointed by Mrs May this summer contains a total of nine people who schools.
As well as Mrs May and Mr Grayling, who she appointed transport secretary, these are: David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU; Damian Green, Work and Pensions Secretary; Baron- ess Evans, leader of the House of Lords; David Lidington, leader of the House of Commons; James Brokenshire, Northern Ireland Secretary, Andrea Leadsom, attended grammar Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary; and Priti Patel, International Development Secretary.
Mrs May’s allies in the Conservative Party have said the educational makeup of her Cabinet heralds a more meri- tocratic society.
Robert Halfon, the MP for Harlow appointed education minister by Mrs May, said her Cabinet reflects “a Britain that works for everyone and real people that reflect Britain”.