A Muslim schoolboy from East London who supports the Labour Party has been awarded a £76,000 scholarship to the prestigious Eton College.
Hasan Patel, 16, from Leyton, became the youngest ever speaker at a mainstream political party conference when he represented Leyton and Wanstead at the Labour party conference in August 2018.
His social media following soared after the passionate address and is now set to study at the world-renowned Eton College in Berkshire in September.
However, the mainstream media have highlighted that last August Hasan tweeted: “Private schools such as Eton will save £522million in tax over the next five years thanks to their absurd and corrupt charitable status.
“Meanwhile ‘peasants’ like me who attend ordinary state schools have teachers spending their own money on basic equipment such as glue sticks.”
Hasan’s retired father grew up in India and migrated to Britain in 1972 to build a better life for himself and his family.
The talented pupil told the Mail: “I am a boy from a Leyton council estate who receives free school meals. My parents are on welfare and I share a room with my brothers.
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“My dad was very smart and politically engaged but lived in abject poverty in India.
“The students at Eton are from the most privileged corners of society, we could not be any more different.
“My views may be different to them because my life experiences are very different. I think that is what impressed Eton, they wanted someone who could offer a different perspective.”
Hasan was granted his scholarship after completing a three challenging entrance exams and eight interviews.
He currently studies at George Mitchell School in Leyton and will start sixth form to study A-Levels in Politics, History, Geography, and Drama and Theatre Studies.
The teen’s father, Mr Patel told the Mail: “I never thought when I left India in 1972 that my son would end up going to the same school that the English royalty have been to.
“All of his family are so incredibly proud of him and what he has achieved. We will miss him when he goes to Eton but going to this school will make a big difference to his future.
“We want him to go to Oxford or Cambridge. Being at Eton he will have a very good chance.
“He was always a very smart boy even when he was very young. At primary school he was the top of the class.
“When I was his age, I was the same. In India I was very engaged in politics, that was a long time ago now though.”
Hasan has insisted that attending Eton will not change his character, personality and political beliefs.
“I may be attending Eton but I will still be the same boy from East London when I arrive and when I leave,” he added.
Headteacher of George Mitchell, Saeed Hussain said: “Hasan is a truly exceptional young man. Aside from being incredibly bright he is one of the most engaged and motivated students I have known in my years of teaching.
“He is the type of person who will seize this opportunity generously offered by Eton. His is a name I expect we will all be hearing more of in the near future.”
