The call comes after new research revealed that the overrepresentation of privately educated MPs erodes trust from society in the government and politics more widely.
The findings of the UK-based study in the British Journal of Social Psychology also found that:
> Privately educated politicians were perceived as less warm, more toxic, less trustworthy, and more forceful compared with state-educated politicians.
> A majority representation of privately educated politicians decreases public trust, communion and feelings of representation.
> If no information about a politician’s education is available, then trust and perceived representation are higher compared than when private education is explicitly mentioned.
> When the majority of powerful positions in politics are occupied by the privately educated, it can potentially impact equal employment opportunities. The chances of receiving a job offer in a political arena are perceived as lower for state-educated compared to privately educated applicants.
Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Political Section Sarah Marsh said:
“Political leaders should reflect the full diversity of the society they serve. This allows for greater trust, understanding, and engagement from the public. Representation from a wide range of backgrounds brings varied perspectives and lived experiences which are essential for fair, empathetic, and effective policymaking. This is the foundation of a healthy, functioning democracy.”
One of the study’s authors Dr Rebekka Kesberg, from the University of Sussex, said: “Representation matters. Seeing people in government that reflect your own identity – whether that is race, gender, or class – fosters feelings of belonging and trust. Labour has celebrated and highlighted their working-class connections during the 2024 election campaign and indeed, the current cabinet is the first in decades without an overrepresentation of private educated politicians. While this representation alone is not a miracle solution to reversing decline in political trust, it is an important aspect to consider when forming a government.”