The Labour MPs and ministers keeping quiet about their private education (including one who went to Eton)

By GLEN OWEN and EIRIAN JANE PROSSER, SENIOR REPORTER Published: 23:56, 4 July 2026 | Updated: 23:58, 4 July 2026 For anyone invited to join the hallowed pages of Who's Who – as all MPs are – it is standard practice to include your education. Not necessarily, though, for some Labour politicians who went to private school. For at a time when the Government is hammering the sector with tax rises, they seem strangely reluctant to fill in that section. An analysis of the biographical reference book, which contains more than 33,000 self-written entries of 'notable and influential living people', has found that 36 Labour MPs who went to a private school fail to declare it – compared with just 18 who do. Last month, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson was embroiled in a Commons row with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who branded her a 'spiteful class warrior' for her attack on private schools.  The introduction of a 20 per cent VAT charge on fees last year is blamed for putting more than 100 schools out of business Take, for example, foreign minister Hamish Falconer whose education at £63,000-a-year Westminster School does not make the cut in the book – despite the part it played in the Labour Party's history. His father Charlie Falconer failed to be selected as a Labour parliamentary candidate in 1997 after a selection panel quizzed him over the fact that his children were being privately educated.  Hamish Falconer's education at a £63,000-a-year Westminster School is not mentioned in the book Former defence secretary John Healey does not mention he attended St Peter's School in York Culture secretary Lisa Nandy only mentions that she went to Parrs Wood comprehensive in Manchester and not Moor Allerton private prep school Tony Blair elevated him to the Lords instead and made him Lord Chancellor – a job which his son is angling for in Andy Burnham's expected administration. Health secretary James Murray went to £57,000-a-year St Paul's School in London, not that those reading Who's Who would know.  Ex-minister Anneliese Dodds, a supporter of the VAT policy, fails to say she attended Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen, which lists its annual fees of up to £21,202 as 'including VAT' and details its objection to the measure. Former defence secretary John Healey doesn't mention he went to St Peter's School in York and Kanishka Narayan fails to say he attended Eton College. Housing minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, the first minister to resign from Sir Keir Starmer's Government in May to pile pressure on him to quit, doesn't list that she went to private Beechwood Sacred Heart School in Tunbridge Wells. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy went to Moor Allerton private prep school and Parrs Wood comprehensive in Manchester. But only Parrs Wood gets a mention. Some key members of Mr Burnham's team are no strangers to the private sector either.  His chief of staff James Purnell attended the Royal Grammar School in Guildford, while Josh Simons, who resigned as MP for Makerfield to give Mr Burnham a path back to the Commons, went to The Perse School in Cambridge.  MP Louise Haigh, who might return to the cabinet if Andy Burnham becomes PM, went to private Sheffield High School Kanishka Narayan, Britain's Minister for AI and Online Safety, fails to say he attended Eton College Ex-minister Anneliese Dodds fails to say she attended Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen MP Louise Haigh, who played a key role in Mr Burnham's campaign, attended private Sheffield High School. Ms Phillipson did not go to private school but went to St Robert of Newminster Catholic school.  It is a church comprehensive, which perform better in exam attainment than ordinary comprehensives. She was one of six people in her year who went to Oxbridge. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: 'Their hypocrisy knows no limits.  While they plot around the Cabinet table to impose this spiteful tax on education, many Labour MPs have been busy covering up their own private school educations. They have no shame in pulling up the ladder behind them.' Last night, Mr Healey said he could not recall ever reading his Who's Who entry but was proud of winning a place at St Peter's sixth form.  Mr Narayan said he was not aware he had a Who's Who entry, adding he had been 'happily open' about his education on his website. Last night, Ms Dodds insisted it was 'common knowledge that I attended Robert Gordon’s College', adding that she had ‘always been open about this'.  Additional reporting by: Liz Ivens and Olivia Christie No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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