Daniel Zeichner, Cambridge's Labour MP, has responded to the report criticising the University of Cambridge and its constituent colleges for failing to increase the number of students coming from state schools.

The report from earlier this week identified Oxford and Cambridge as two of the worst performing universities in the country with regard to access. 

The Observer described it as "an unprecedented attack from government advisers for their failure to increase the number of state school pupils studying at Oxbridge colleges."

Robinson College was singled out in the report for its performance. 53 per cent of its offers were given out to privately educated students last year according to the report. 

In response, Zeichner said that the report raised "serious points about the barriers facing many young people" and that he had "already spoken to senior members" of the university about how to tackle this problem. 

The Labour MP recognised that the university "has worked very hard on widening participation", but that the disparity between colleges needed investigating.  

He added that "social mobility in Britain remains poor and that structural divisions are deeply embedded."

He said tackling this problem is "what the Labour Party is about", and that a "radical reforming Labour government" is needed to "transform life chances" to align with those he and his generation enjoyed.

A University of Cambridge spokesman, responding to the report, said: “Our policy is to offer admission to students of the highest intellectual potential and achievement, irrespective of their background. The university works hard to raise aspirations among disadvantaged groups and to improve their access to Cambridge and higher education in general."