Michael Gove criticises David Cameron’s Etonian inner circle of advisers

The education secretary, Michael Gove has criticised the UK government for the “preposterous” number of Etonions in the Prime Minister’s inner circle.

Gove commented that four people in the exclusive group all went to the same private school, Eton, and describes the expensively educated inner circle as “ridiculous”.

“It doesn’t make me feel personally uncomfortable, because I like each of the individuals concerned,” he told the Financial Times.

“But it’s ridiculous. I don’t know where you can find a similar situation in any other developed economy.”

As well as Etonian David Cameron, chief of staff Ed Llewellyn and minister for government policy Oliver Letwin, were also educated at the college.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Gove opposed that money can still buy education that leads to opportunities for top jobs in Britain.

“I don’t blame any of the individuals concerned…But 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,” he said.

Labour politician and shadow cabinet office minister Jon Ashworth said the conservatives are “out of touch”.

“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,” he said.

Eton College that has annual fees of up to £33,270, has produced 19 prime ministers, including David Cameron.

Vanessa Smart