Here’s a balanced, evidence-based overview of known or declared Fabian Society members who are or have been part of the Labour government (ministers or MPs in government).
It is not a comprehensive list (membership is often private), but draws on published “Ministers’ Interests” registers and public disclosures.
What counts as “Labour government + Fabian member”
By “Labour government” here I mean individuals currently in ministerial/official roles under a Labour government (or recently) who list “Member, Fabian Society” among their declared interests, or have widely documented Fabian memberships while serving in government.
The UK publishes periodic “List of Ministers’ Interests” which includes non-ministerial memberships (e.g. Fabian Society) as a declared interest.
Membership of the Fabian Society does not imply a fixed policy position or faction; many MPs are members for intellectual, networking, or think-tank reasons.
Examples in the current (2025) Labour government
From the List of Ministers’ Interests (May 2025) and related registers, here are several ministers or governmental officeholders who explicitly declare Fabian membership:
| Name | Role / Department | Notes on Fabian membership |
|---|---|---|
| Rachel Reeves MP | Chancellor of the Exchequer | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” among her other “relevant interests” ([GOV.UK][2]) |
| Sarah Jones MP | Minister of State (various) | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” ([GOV.UK][2]) |
| Alison McGovern MP | Minister of State | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” ([GOV.UK][3]) |
| Andrew Western MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” ([GOV.UK][2]) |
| Ian Murray MP | Secretary of State for Scotland | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” ([GOV.UK][2]) |
| Kirsty McNeill MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office) | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” ([GOV.UK][2]) |
| Lucy Powell MP | Leader of the House / Cabinet member | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” ([GOV.UK][2]) |
| Gen Kitchen MP | Assistant Whip | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” ([GOV.UK][2]) |
| Keir Mather MP | Assistant Whip | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” ([GOV.UK][2]) |
| Anna McMorrin MP | Assistant Whip | Declares “Member, Fabian Society” ([GOV.UK][2]) |
Also, in an earlier “List of Ministers’ Interests (Feb 2025)” version, Georgia Gould MP (Parliamentary Secretary) was declared as a Fabian Society member. ([GOV.UK][1])
Thus, many in the current government, at different levels, have publicly declared Fabian membership alongside their ministerial or governmental roles.
Historical / prominent examples in past Labour governments
Beyond the present, Fabian Society has had many high-profile Labour members and ministers in past governments. Some examples include:
- Tony Blair — former Labour Prime Minister; often cited as a Fabian (Category listing Fabian Society members).
- Gordon Brown — former Prime Minister and Chancellor; also listed among modern MPs who are Fabian members.
- Robin Cook — served as Foreign Secretary in Labour governments, known to be a Fabian.
- Clare Short — Cabinet minister under Blair; also among MPs noted as Fabian members.
- Sidney Webb, 1st Baron Passfield — early Labour government minister; a foundational Fabian thinker and writer; he held office under Ramsay MacDonald.
Additionally, the Fabian Society’s own “About us” page states:
“Every Labour prime minister has been a Fabian … today 100s of Labour politicians are members of the society, including … more than half his cabinet.” ([fabians.org.uk][7])
This indicates that Fabian membership has long been widespread in Labour ranks, though only some disclose it formally via ministerial registers.
Caveats & caveats of the list
- Not all Fabian members disclose publicly. Many MPs or ministers may be Fabian members but do not list it in their ministerial interests (or the register may not be fully updated).
- Membership ≠ control or ideological dominance. Being a member of the Fabian Society does not imply rigidity in policy, or that one aligns with every Fabian position. Many see it as a forum or intellectual society.
- Disclosure depends on role and transparency rules. The official lists only capture those who are ministers or whose roles require such declarations. Backbenchers or former ministers may not appear there.
- Past vs present roles. Some politicians were Fabian members in their careers but are no longer in government; I have confined the list above to current ministers or recently serving.