The universities attended and subjects studied by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new Cabinet

26 Aug

The Labour Party won the 2024 UK General Election

On 5 July 2024, the Labour Party led by Keir Starmer won a majority in the 2024 General Election, taking over 411 out of 650 seats in the UK Parliament (see Chart 1 below). Keir Starmer becomes the new Prime Minister of the UK and marks a new era of British politics. Let’s take a look at the higher education backgrounds of the new Cabinet, which is made up of Keir Starmer and his top team in Parliament (26 members in total as below), shedding light on the UK universities they attended and the subjects they studied. This exploration intends to provide aspiring students with invaluable insights into potential academic paths, institutions, and subjects to consider for their educational pursuits.

Chart 1: Numbers of seats won by parties in UK General Election 2024

Chart 1: Number of seats won by parties in UK General Election 2024 — Source: UK Parliament (2024a).

Higher education backgrounds of the new UK Cabinet Ministers

**Keir Starmer**, Prime Minister
Undergraduate: University of Leeds, Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Postgraduate: St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, Postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL)
University of Leeds, Honorary Doctorate of Laws
Sources: Britannica (2024), Labour (2024a), University of Leeds (2024), Number 10 (2024).

Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Levelling Up Secretary

She did not go to university

Rachel Reeves, Chancellor

Undergraduate: New College, Oxford, Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Postgraduate: London School of Economics and Political Science, MSc Economics

Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary

Undergraduate: Balliol College, Oxford, Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Postgraduate: London School of Economics and Political Science & Harvard University, MSc Economics

Ed Miliband, Energy Secretary

Undergraduate: Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Postgraduate: London School of Economics and Political Science, MSc Economics

David Lammy, Foreign Secretary

Undergraduate: School of Oriental and African Studies, SOAS University of London, Law (LLB)

Postgraduate: Harvard Law School, Harvard University, Masters of Laws (LL.M)

Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Undergraduate: University of Edinburgh, Politics (MA Hons)

Shabana Mahmood, Justice Secretary

Undergraduate: Lincoln College, Oxford, Law

Wes Streeting, Health Secretary

Undergraduate: Selwyn College, Cambridge, History

Jonathan Reynolds, Business and Trade Secretary

Undergraduate: University of Manchester, Politics and Modern History

Postgraduate: BPP University Law School, Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

Other qualification: BPP University Law School, Legal Practice Course (LPC)

Liz Kendall, Work and Pensions Secretary

Undergraduate: Queens’ College, Cambridge, History

John Healey, Defence Secretary

Undergraduate: Christ’s College, Cambridge, Social and Political Sciences

Louise Haigh, Transport Secretary

Undergraduate: University of Nottingham, Politics

Peter Kyle, Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary

Undergraduate: University of Sussex, Human Geography, International Development, and Environmental Studies

Postgraduate: University of Sussex, PhD in Community Economic Development

Hilary Benn, Northern Ireland Secretary

Undergraduate: University of Sussex, Russian and Eastern European Studies

Ian Murray, Scotland Secretary

Undergraduate: University of Edinburgh, Social Policy and Law

Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary

Undergraduate: Hertford College, Oxford, Modern History

Lord (Richard) Hermer, Attorney General

Undergraduate: University of Manchester, Politics and Modern History

Lisa Nandy, Culture Secretary

Undergraduate: Newcastle University, Politics

Postgraduate: Birkbeck, University of London, MSc Public Policy

Alan Campbell, Chief Whip

Undergraduate: Lancaster University, Politics

Other qualification: University of Leeds, PGCE Education

Postgraduate: Newcastle Polytechnic (now named Northumbria University), MA History

Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Undergraduate: Plymouth University, Human Biosciences (BSc)

Postgraduate: University of the West of England, Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL)

Other qualification: The University of Law, Legal Practice Course (LPC)

Source: The University of Law (2024).

Baroness (Angela) Smith, Lords Leader

Undergraduate: Leicester Polytechnic (now named De Montfort University), Public Administration

Lucy Powell, Commons Leader

Undergraduate: Somerville College, Oxford & King’s College London, Chemistry

Jo Stevens, Wales Secretary

Undergraduate: University of Manchester, Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

Steve Reed, Environment Secretary

Undergraduate: University of Sheffield, English

Anneliese Dodds, Minister for Women and Equalities

Undergraduate: St Hilda’s College, Oxford, Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Postgraduate: University of Edinburgh, MA Social Policy

London School of Economics and Political Science, PhD in Government

Source: GOV.UK (2024a).

Note: The list of Cabinet members is based on the Labour and UK Parliament websites accessed on 25 August 2024.

Sources: BBC (2024), GOV.UK (2024b), Labour (2024c), Sky News (2024), UK Parliament (2024b).

Oxbridge, Russell Group universities, high academic qualifications, and non-science subjects can be crucial factors for the political success of the new UK Cabinet Ministers

Significant patterns emerge in the tertiary educational backgrounds of the 26 new top team members in the UK Parliament. Except for the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, all pursued undergraduate degrees, with 8 earning master’s degrees, 2 attaining PhDs, and 1 receiving an honorary doctorate. Notably, 11 members (42%) studied at Oxbridge, while 15 members (58%) went to other Russell Group universities for either undergraduate, postgraduate or both. The findings underscore the remarkable academic qualifications and the strong preference for esteemed academic institutions among prominent Members of Parliament (MPs) and Leaders of the Houses of Lords and Commons.

The subjects that Keir Starmer and his senior Ministers studied were predominantly in the humanities and social sciences (non-science subjects), such as politics, philosophy, law, history, and economics. Only two members delved into scientific fields, specifically chemistry and human biosciences. This highlights the importance of non-science disciplines, often associated with lower-paying jobs (HESA, 2024), but can be just as valuable in building a successful career as science subjects. It emphasises the diverse pathways to success that different fields of study can offer.

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