The article criticises Education Secretary Lucy Powell’s account of her background and education, arguing that she has overstated hardship and portrayed her former college unfairly. It matters because the claims concern the accuracy of a senior politician’s public narrative and have prompted scrutiny shortly after her appointment.

Powell previously said she was the only student from Xaverian College to get into Oxford in her year, but the article cites Financial Times reporting and former pupils indicating there were several Oxbridge entrants. Her spokesperson said she was happy to be corrected and had not intended to diminish others’ achievements; the article also revisits Powell’s decision to leave Oxford after a year, which she had attributed to feeling out of place.