British MPs urge Oxford and Cambridge to look for students beyond the rich, white and English

More than 100 British MPs have called on the vice-chancellors of Oxford and Cambridge universities to take “urgent action” to help more disadvantaged students and those from under-represented areas gain an Oxbridge education.

The call comes in a letter organised by Labour’s David Lammy and supported by Robert Halfon, the Conservative MP who chairs parliament’s education committee. It follows revelations in the Guardian about Oxbridge’s failure to widen its admissions base.

The 108 signatories – including the former cabinet minister Yvette Cooper, a graduate of Balliol College, Oxford – said they were gravely concerned by data showing Oxbridge’s undergraduates were largely white, wealthy and from the south of England.

“An Oxbridge education is still seen as a golden ticket into a top job and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge – supported by significant taxpayer funding – still hold the key to our top professions,” the letter to Louise Richardson, vice-chancellor of Oxford, and Stephen Toope, vice-chancellor of Cambridge, stated.

“We call on you to set out exactly what steps you will be taking to address this situation and make good on this responsibility.”

Cambridge replied immediately, with Toope sending a letter to Lammy. “I believe that all universities, including Cambridge, have a duty to be open to people from all backgrounds, irrespective of race, class and origin,” Toope wrote.