Eton provost threatens Tory party over 'social mobility agenda'

Job applicants could be quizzed about whether or not they were privately educated in future. Credit: David Parker/PA

The provost of Eton College has threatened to quit the Tory party over the government's so-called 'life chances' social mobility agenda.

It comes after proposals announced last week suggested employers should ask candidates whether they attended an independent school in an attempt to stop discrimination.

Lord Waldegrave of North Hill, the crown-appointed provost of Prime Minister David Cameron's former school, told The Daily Telegraph that it would be "wrong to punish children" based on whether their parents had opted to send them to fee-paying schools or not.

Eton provost Lord Waldegrave has threatened to quit the Tory party. Credit: David Rose/Daily Telegraph

Lord Waldegrave's comments came following the publication of several suggested questions, drawn up by Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock, that firms could use to establish what sort of backgrounds they are employing people from.

Suggested questions include:

  • asking what area someone lived in up to the age of 14.

  • asking whether they received free school meals.

  • asking about their parents' professions.