Lucy Powell, the UK education secretary, faces accusations of making a misleading claim about her entry to Oxford University. Former pupils of Xaverian College say she was not the "only one" from her year to attend the elite institution, directly challenging the account attributed to her.
What the disputed claim says
The reported claim holds that Powell was the sole student from her Xaverian College year to gain entry to Oxford. Former classmates dispute that. They say more than one student from the cohort went to Oxford, putting the "only one" characterization at odds with their account of the year group's outcomes. The question is narrow and checkable: how many students from that year entered Oxford.
The source of the accusation
The challenge comes from former Xaverian College pupils who shared Powell's year group. Their standing rests on direct knowledge of where classmates went after the college. Their account, as reported, does not dispute that Powell attended Oxford. It disputes whether she stood alone in doing so.
Note: The source contains no reported figures, dates, or additional attributed statements. This article reflects the full scope of the available sourced facts.