 He pursued further studies at Oxford receiving a doctorate with a thesis entitled, "The political role of the British peerage in the Third Reform Act system, c. 1885–1914" at Christ Church, before being elected a fellow in History and Politics at Nuffield College.From 1991 to 1996, he was an education and industry correspondent at the "Financial Times", eventually becoming their public policy editor.In 1996, he moved to "The Observer" to work as a political columnist, leader writer and editor.