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| Michael Gove criticises 'ridiculous' number of PM's Etonians | Michael Gove criticises 'ridiculous' number of PM's Etonians |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The number of former Eton pupils in Prime Minister David Cameron's inner circle is "ridiculous", Education Secretary Michael Gove has said. | The number of former Eton pupils in Prime Minister David Cameron's inner circle is "ridiculous", Education Secretary Michael Gove has said. |
| Mr Cameron is himself an Old Etonian, as is chief of staff Ed Llewellyn and minister for government policy Oliver Letwin, among others. | Mr Cameron is himself an Old Etonian, as is chief of staff Ed Llewellyn and minister for government policy Oliver Letwin, among others. |
| "I don't know where you can find some such similar situation in a developed economy," he told the Financial Times. | "I don't know where you can find some such similar situation in a developed economy," he told the Financial Times. |
| Labour said it was a reflection of the Conservative Party under Mr Cameron. | Labour said it was a reflection of the Conservative Party under Mr Cameron. |
| 'It's preposterous' | 'It's preposterous' |
| In an interview in Saturday's FT, the education secretary said: "It doesn't make me feel personally uncomfortable, because I like each of the individuals concerned. | In an interview in Saturday's FT, the education secretary said: "It doesn't make me feel personally uncomfortable, because I like each of the individuals concerned. |
| "But it's ridiculous. I don't know where you can find a similar situation in any other developed economy." | "But it's ridiculous. I don't know where you can find a similar situation in any other developed economy." |
| The FT said Mr Gove was reflecting on the number of those close to the prime minister who were educated, like Mr Cameron, at the boys' secondary school. | |
| Among the other Old Etonians in Mr Cameron's inner circle are policy unit head Jo Johnson and Chancellor George Osborne's chief economic adviser, Rupert Harrison. | Among the other Old Etonians in Mr Cameron's inner circle are policy unit head Jo Johnson and Chancellor George Osborne's chief economic adviser, Rupert Harrison. |
| And the prestigious school has produced 19 prime ministers of Great Britain, one of Northern Ireland, and also educated the prime minister of Thailand. | And the prestigious school has produced 19 prime ministers of Great Britain, one of Northern Ireland, and also educated the prime minister of Thailand. |
| It would be wrong to blame the individuals concerned, said Mr Gove, but he added: "It's a function of the fact that, as we pointed out a couple of years ago, more boys from Eton went to Oxford and Cambridge than boys eligible for free school meals." | It would be wrong to blame the individuals concerned, said Mr Gove, but he added: "It's a function of the fact that, as we pointed out a couple of years ago, more boys from Eton went to Oxford and Cambridge than boys eligible for free school meals." |
| Mr Gove appeared to draw a parallel between Mr Cameron and the 19th and early 20th Century Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, who is partly remembered for appointing his nephew to the cabinet. | Mr Gove appeared to draw a parallel between Mr Cameron and the 19th and early 20th Century Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, who is partly remembered for appointing his nephew to the cabinet. |
| He said: "At the beginning of the 20th Century, the Conservative cabinet was called Hotel Cecil. The phrase 'Bob's your uncle' came about. It's preposterous." | He said: "At the beginning of the 20th Century, the Conservative cabinet was called Hotel Cecil. The phrase 'Bob's your uncle' came about. It's preposterous." |
| Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Ashworth said: "It's up to David Cameron who he puts into top jobs, and the fact is that the prime minister has chosen to surround himself with people just like himself. | Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Ashworth said: "It's up to David Cameron who he puts into top jobs, and the fact is that the prime minister has chosen to surround himself with people just like himself. |
| "He's leading a government that's completely out of touch. That's why his decisions have helped a privileged few rather than hard-working families." | "He's leading a government that's completely out of touch. That's why his decisions have helped a privileged few rather than hard-working families." |