==Rory==

Is her son reading PPE, Modern History, or Modern History and Politics (MHP)? All three have been mentioned (including the non-existent "history and politics and history"). It is sometimes the case that an admissions tutor might suggest that a candidate accepts a place for a subject other than that for which he or she has applied, although I think that is most likely to happen when the candidate has applied for a Joint School and is thought to be better suited to just one of the subjects it includes, e.g. an applicant for Philosophy and Theology might be offered Theology (there is no School of Philosophy); I suppose it is possible that it was doubted whether he was suitably qualified to read the philosophy and economics aspects of the course and, since there is no School of Politics, it would be possible only to offer a Joint School including politics, of which the only one currently offered is MHP (presumably he would have been considered well qualified for Modern History). It isn't the case that PPE is more "coveted" (or even "coverted"!) than MHP; rather, that more applicants aspire to read it. I suppose those applicants (and later those who were unsuccessful) do covet reading PPE, but I imagine that MHP applicants covet a place to read MHP. Perhaps PPE is quantitively more coveted, but I think that unless MHP students secretly covet the opportunity of reading PPE, it isn't really an appropriate description. All that might be said is that PPE is long-established and is currently thought to be a good preparation for future life. When the PPE School was in its infancy it was regarded as a very poor School, though not as poor as English Language and Literature, about which it was commonly asked whether one could really justify a university teaching English literature (English language was less controversial, which is why the early course placed such great emphasis on language rather than literature) - one might say that English was the old media studies. Today, English is considered one of the most respectable university degree subjects. Modern History used to be considered second after Literae Humaniores and is still a highly respected School (in fact, all Schools at Oxford are highly respected, notwithstanding criticism sometimes directed against Classical Archaeology and Ancient History). Presumably the earlier information about Rory Campbell reading MHP was incorrect, or he has managed to change his course, which is not uncommon, although it would seem strange for a student to be allowed to change to a course for which he or she had previously been rejected.

Is it actually important to mention that Fiona Millar's son is reading PPE at Balliol? Many hundreds of people have read PPE at Balliol, so it is hardly a thing of any interest in itself. Perhaps if Fiona Millar had previously been an opponent of PPE (very unlikely), or of Oxford (or Oxbridge) (a distinct possibility), or indeed of Balliol (unlikely but a remote possibility), it would be of interest. However, nothing in the article suggests that she holds, or has ever held, anti-Oxford/Oxbridge views. If the suggestion being made was that her son had gained admission to Balliol because of the importance of his parents and in spite of being "widely regarded as a top class idiot", I would think that the allegation is unkind, probably unfounded, and almost certainly impossible to prove. The only way in which it could be included here would be if it was stated in some other source, such as a newspaper article.