Mail on Sunday ends up funding state school scholarship via payout to MP

A new scholarship supporting state-educated students will be inadvertently funded by the Mail on Sunday, using a payout it made after being threatened with legal action by the Labour MP Catherine Atkinson.

The Derby North MP says she will use the proceeds of around £5,000 from the Mail on Sunday (MoS) to fund scholarships for local law students at the University of Derby who – like her – attended state schools.

In early July the newspaper said Atkinson attended a private school and accused her of concealing it from her biographical entry in Who’s Who.

Despite Atkinson correcting the journalists who contacted her, the MoS published an article making the false claim, accompanied by a large photograph of the MP. The MoS later apologised and paid damages and legal costs after the former lawyer responded firmly that she had attended state schools.

“I am grateful for the state-school education that helped me build a 17-year career as a barrister,” said Atkinson, who attended Sacred Heart high school, a Catholic comprehensive in Hammersmith, west London.

“The claim that I had concealed a private education from my constituents was false. I am using the money from this settlement to support students from Derby’s state schools in beginning their own careers in law.

“Strengthening our justice system means taking seriously who gets the opportunity to work in it. When financial barriers keep capable people out of the profession, the public loses the benefit of their talent.

“The legal profession has a shared responsibility to help remove those barriers. We should be looking for future lawyers in every school and supporting those who need help to get started.

“There are students in Derby today who could spend their careers defending the rights of others. They deserve the opportunity to build that future.”

Atkinson was elected at the 2024 general election as MP for Derby North, where the University of Derby’s law school is situated.

At least £5,000 from the settlement after expenses will go towards the Catherine Atkinson future lawyers award, providing a £500 award each year for at least 10 years. The award will be open to first-year law students who were educated at a state school within the city of Derby.

Prof Kathryn Mitchell, the university’s vice-chancellor, said she welcomed Atkinson’s support.

Mitchell said: “At the University of Derby we firmly believe in the transformative nature of education and, as a champion of social mobility and inclusion, aim to create opportunities for all across our region and beyond, regardless of age, background or location.

“We want talented students from Derby’s state comprehensive schools to have every opportunity to pursue a career in law.

“The Catherine Atkinson future lawyers award will provide financial support as recipients begin their degrees. We welcome Catherine’s commitment to social mobility and her investment in local students over the next 10 years.”

DMG Media, which owns Associated Newspapers and the MoS, was contacted for comment.