MSPs and Former Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson Went to Eton
MSPs are Four Times as Likely to Have Gone to a Private School as the General Population
New Research Shows That Private School Attendance Is Linked to Political Success
A new study has found that MSPs are four times as likely to have gone to a private school as the general population. The study, which was conducted by the University of Glasgow, analyzed the educational backgrounds of all MSPs elected since 1999.
The study found that 23% of MSPs attended a private school, compared to just 6% of the general population. This means that MSPs are four times as likely to have gone to a private school as the average person in Scotland.
The study also found that private school attendance is linked to political success. MSPs who attended a private school are more likely to be elected to leadership positions within their parties and are more likely to serve as ministers in the Scottish Government.
The study's findings raise concerns about the lack of diversity in Scottish politics. The vast majority of MSPs come from a narrow social and economic background, and this is reflected in the policies that they pursue.
The study's authors argue that the over-representation of private school graduates in Scottish politics is a barrier to social mobility and that it makes it harder for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter politics.
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