Labour divided by 'education apartheid'

A survey of the educational backgrounds of the country's MPs reveals Labour ministers are far more likely to have had a private education than their backbenchers - 25 per cent as opposed to 16 per cent.

It also reveals that the percentage of Labour MPs with a private school education has been steadily rising since 1987 - from 14 to 18 per cent.

However, it shows the Conservatives are still the real party of privilege with 59 per cent of their MPs from private schools.

The survey has been carried out by the Sutton Trust, the education charity run by Sir Peter Lampl.

"The educational profile of our representatives does not reflect society at large," said Sir Peter.

"This is symptomatic of the educational apartheid which blights our system and offers the best life chances to those who can afford to pay for schooling."

Overall, it showed that one in three MPs came from an independent school background - compared to just 7 per cent in the country at large. Among members of the House of Lords, two-thirds had attended public school.