More Eton graduates were admitted to Cambridge University than black men last year, according to new shocking statistics.
Only 19 black males of African descent and two of Caribbean descent were accepted into the elite university last year.
This compares to 22 graduates of the £40,700-a-year Eton, famous for educating many current politicians and Princes William and Harry.
David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, said the figures were ‘an utterly damning indictment of an education system that prioritises a posh education over natural talent’.
Cambridge University made headlines in 2016 for its first year admitting more black men than Eton graduates, but this trend has already been reversed.
Mr Lammy said: ‘Our current political and economic crisis, in no small part caused by graduates of this one school, shows the broader effect of this Eton mess on our society.
‘While I am pleased that both Cambridge and Oxford will be introducing a foundation year to increase access, this shows the vast scale of the challenge these institutions face.
‘For truly systemic change, we need a centralised admissions process that includes ethnic, geographical and social class diversity as a key aim.’
Cambridge and Oxford have faced accusations of failing to accept enough students from black and ethnic minority backgrounds as well as students from state schools, particularly comprehensives.
Eton is one of eight schools which provides the same amount of pupils to Oxbridge as three quarters of all UK schools and colleges.
A Cambridge University spokesman said: ‘We accepted a total of 61 black undergraduates in 2018, which was a slight increase on the previous year and a record high.
‘However we recognise that this is still too low.
‘That is why we are working closely with organisations like Target Oxbridge to raise aspirations among young black students and encourage them to apply here.
‘If they don’t apply, they simply won’t get in.’
Following the scrapping of the AimHigher university access scheme in 2010, universities were given increased responsibility for their own outreach and widening participation programmes.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said: ‘For too long our most highly-selective universities have been a closed club, with access dominated by a wealthy and privileged elite.
‘Universities, including Cambridge, have not taken the necessary steps required to improve access and the government has taken no meaningful action to hold them to account for a shocking lack of progress.’
Cambridge University says it is engaging in a range of outreach activities to encourage more black and ethnic minority students to apply.
The latest activity is a social media campaign by YouTube influencer Courtney Daniella launched this week.
The 22-year-old was told she was not good enough to go to Oxbridge by her teachers, but managed to get a place and graduate.
She said: ‘It’s true the gates of Cambridge were once closed to people like me.
‘However, here I am a Cambridge graduate, I’ve done it and people who look like me can see they can do it too.’
Cambridge also announced the Stormzy scholarship last year.
The grime artist paid for the tuition fees and maintenance grants of two black students in 2018, and will do so again this year.
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