Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn becomes the latest member of the family to serve (Image: Getty )
As Sir Keir Starmer announces his new Cabinet there is one person for whom serving in a Labour government has become something of a family tradition dating back 100 years.
New Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, 70, will be returning to a Labour administration for the second time after previously holding positions under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown from 2003 until 2010.
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Link Sponsored Link
Promoted Links Promoted Links
UltraCut
Use This and Never Have to Change Your Whipper Snipper Line AgainUltraCut
Undo
Mr Benn is the son of former Cabinet minister, author and veteran left-wing campaigner Tony Benn, who also held office during the Labour governments of the 1960s and 70s.
Going back even further to 1924, we find the first Benn to appear with the first Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
William Wedgwood Benn was appointed the Secretary of State for India under MacDonald and then served as Secretary of State for Air under Clement Attlee after World War II.
Sponsored
Neuro Reports
Neuro ReportsNeuropaty is not from Low vitamin B (Meet the Real Enemy)
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Continuing the Benn family tradition of political roles, Emily Benn, the niece of Hilary Benn, has run for Parliament in two elections and now works as a councillor in London.
Don't miss... Jeremy Clarkson gives damning verdict on Sir Keir Starmer after election victory [REPORT ]
Emily Benn with her grandfather Tony Benn (right) and uncle Hilary Benn (Image: PA )
Sir Keir Starmer's first Cabinet is the most diverse on record in terms of education background, analysis has shown. The majority of the Prime Minister's top team, 23 Cabinet ministers, or 92 percent of the total, attended comprehensive schools, according to research by social mobility charity the Sutton Trust.
The Prime Minister attended a grammar school which was a state-selective grammar when he started, and his place remained state-funded throughout his secondary education even though the school became independent two years into his time there, according to the charity.
Only one member of the new Labour Cabinet, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, went to an independent school, Sheffield High School.
The Sutton Trust added that although Defence Secretary John Healey and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn spent time in private education, most of their schooling between the ages of 11 and 16 was in comprehensive schools.
The proportion of Sir Keir's Cabinet educated at comprehensive schools is significantly higher than the cabinets of former prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, both at 19 percent, according to the charity.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
I watched Tory right in first reunion since election - why they'll rise from the ashes
54 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'stand firm' after fears he'll back down in post-Brexit EU fishing row
61 Comments
Rwanda refuses to give Britain a penny back of axed ￡270m migrant scheme
265 Comments
A strong and effective opposition must be in place before Labour's first Budget
83 Comments
Thames Water boss issues warning over Labour nationalisation amid ￡15bn debt
37 Comments
David Cameron set to quit frontline politics again after general election bloodbath
371 Comments
Nigel Farage arrives in Commons for first time with six-word warning for Labour and Tories
757 Comments
Luxury estate agents reveal slump in sales as non-doms flee Labour's tax bombshell
132 Comments
Tony Blair fires immigration warning at Keir Starmer - 'people want control'
317 Comments
Tories in chaos as shadow minister warns replacing Rishi Sunak could take 'months'
44 Comments
'I was in the room when Liz Truss went missing then lost her seat - here's what happened'
37 Comments
Warning as Labour set to let 100,000 migrants apply for asylum after Rwanda axed
816 Comments
Boris Johnson's aide was milkshaked by journalist after ex-PM hid in a fridge
4 Comments
Ex-Tory adviser gives verdict on Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer's BBC debate
21 Comments
Poll: Should Ed Balls be replaced on Good Morning Britain?
11 Comments
Gloating Labour figures quick to celebrate over expected election landslide victory
25 Comments
Boris Johnson's five-word Brexit warning as he erupts at Labour for ditching key policy
26 Comments
Nigel Farage takes furious swipe at John Bercow over Brexit in first Commons speech
327 Comments
Health Insight Journal
New Edema Device Leaves Experts Speechless (It's Genius!)Health Insight Journal Learn More
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Keir Starmer LIVE: New Parliament meets for first time as Reform promises chaos
220 Comments
Striking junior docs have no plans for walkouts - but Labour cannot afford pay demands
22 Comments
I watched Tory right in first reunion since election - why they'll rise from the ashes
54 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'stand firm' after fears he'll back down in post-Brexit EU fishing row
61 Comments
Rwanda refuses to give Britain a penny back of axed ￡270m migrant scheme
265 Comments
A strong and effective opposition must be in place before Labour's first Budget
83 Comments
Thames Water boss issues warning over Labour nationalisation amid ￡15bn debt
37 Comments
David Cameron set to quit frontline politics again after general election bloodbath
371 Comments
Nigel Farage arrives in Commons for first time with six-word warning for Labour and Tories
757 Comments
Luxury estate agents reveal slump in sales as non-doms flee Labour's tax bombshell
132 Comments
Tony Blair fires immigration warning at Keir Starmer - 'people want control'
317 Comments
Tories in chaos as shadow minister warns replacing Rishi Sunak could take 'months'
44 Comments
'I was in the room when Liz Truss went missing then lost her seat - here's what happened'
37 Comments
Warning as Labour set to let 100,000 migrants apply for asylum after Rwanda axed
816 Comments
Boris Johnson's aide was milkshaked by journalist after ex-PM hid in a fridge
4 Comments
Ex-Tory adviser gives verdict on Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer's BBC debate
21 Comments
Poll: Should Ed Balls be replaced on Good Morning Britain?
11 Comments
Gloating Labour figures quick to celebrate over expected election landslide victory
25 Comments
Boris Johnson's five-word Brexit warning as he erupts at Labour for ditching key policy
26 Comments
Nigel Farage takes furious swipe at John Bercow over Brexit in first Commons speech
327 Comments
Keir Starmer LIVE: New Parliament meets for first time as Reform promises chaos
220 Comments
Striking junior docs have no plans for walkouts - but Labour cannot afford pay demands
22 Comments
I watched Tory right in first reunion since election - why they'll rise from the ashes
54 Comments
Keir Starmer warned 'stand firm' after fears he'll back down in post-Brexit EU fishing row
61 Comments
Rwanda refuses to give Britain a penny back of axed ￡270m migrant scheme
265 Comments
A strong and effective opposition must be in place before Labour's first Budget
83 Comments
Thames Water boss issues warning over Labour nationalisation amid ￡15bn debt
37 Comments
David Cameron set to quit frontline politics again after general election bloodbath
371 Comments
Nigel Farage arrives in Commons for first time with six-word warning for Labour and Tories
757 Comments
energeticallday
Daily Habit For Slim, Summer Belly?energeticallday
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Don't miss...
Tories must learn the lessons from this 'punishment election,' says Matt Goodwin [SPOTLIGHT ]
Suella Braverman breaks silence on Tory leadership as rival rules himself out [REVEAL ]
John Curtice unveils real reason for Labour victory - and it's not good news [REPORT ]
Trending
Hilary Benn also served under Prime Minister Tony Blair (Image: PA )
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Of the 25 ministers in the Labour Cabinet, 40 percent attended Oxford or Cambridge for university.
Sir Keir continues the tradition of nearly every UK prime minister since the Second World War having studied at Oxford University, after he attended for a postgraduate degree.
The one exception is Gordon Brown, who went to Edinburgh University.
Related articles Carol Vorderman urges Keir Starmer to stay grounded after Labour's historic win Joe Biden under pressure to quit 2024 race to prevent 'utter catastrophe' Tory civil war erupts as members moan about 'Boris-shaped hole' in party Macron so 'hated on the ground' he is told to avoid campaigning Russian foreign minister's odd response to Labour winning the election