More than half the MPs in the new House of Commons are state educated, research shows
More than half the MPs in the new House of Commons went to comprehensive schools, Sutton Trust research shows. However, the proportion of MPs who went to private school is still four times the national rate.
Speaking on the morning the election results were announced, Sir Peter Lampl – chairman of the Sutton Trust, which campaigns for social mobility through education – said: “The landscape of British politics changed considerably this morning. This is reflected in the educational profile of the House of Commons where there has been an increase in the numbers of state-educated MPs.
“However, MPs are still four times as likely to have been to a fee-paying school than a state school. If parliament is to truly represent the nation as a whole, able people from all backgrounds should have the opportunity to become MPs.”
The landscape of British politics changed considerably this morning
Comprehensive schools were attended by 67 per cent of Labour MPs and 38 per cent of Conservative MPs. 18 per cent of MPs went to selective state grammar schools, a similar level to the previous House.
Of the 98 new MPs, two thirds went to a comprehensive school while a fifth were educated at a private school.
