Facts

There are zero British students taking a degree in Harry Potter studies.  According to Times Education Supplement columnist Sam Freedman, 245,000 British students study architecture, building, planning and engineering. 

Verdict

It would indeed have been disgraceful if Jenkyns’s claim was true. It wasn’t. Her statement  that “the current system would rather our young people get a degree in Harry Potter studies, than in construction” had no foundation. 

Andrea Jenkyns is Higher Education Minister. As such, she must have known she was telling a falsehood to Tory members. It is therefore fair to state that she was knowingly uttering an untruth. In other words she was lying. 

We emailed Andrea Jenkyns’s office and the Department for Education offering them the chance to respond.  Jenkyns’ office has yet to reply. The Department for Education directed us to contact the Conservative Party, which we have now done. Once again we are yet to receive a response. When and if we receive one we will publish it.