The era of the Conservative party was epitomized by an infamous photo of David Cameron and Boris Johnson at the elitist Bullingdon Club in Oxford University. The cabinet was dominated by private school alumni, but recent trends show a shift towards a more state-educated cabinet. Rishi Sunak’s cabinet had a majority from private schools, but the upcoming shadow cabinet is set to be 77.5% state-educated, hinting at a more working-class representation.
While state education doesn’t fully define socio-economic class, the incoming shadow cabinet members have diverse backgrounds, with some coming from working-class households. The hope is that this shift towards a more socially representative cabinet will influence policies towards social justice.
The challenge lies in ensuring that the policies of a working-class cabinet align with the needs of the people. Critics point out that Labour’s manifesto lacks strong commitments to address key issues like social housebuilding and benefit cuts. However, there is optimism that a focus on social justice will prevail once in power.
Ultimately, it’s not just about who is in the cabinet, but who they consult and the diversity of voices they consider. The shadow cabinet’s background in upward social mobility brings a unique perspective to address real-life challenges faced by individuals.