King’s Foundation president Dame Ann Limb has admitted to being “misleading” about her PhD degree.
The education specialist, who was recently nominated for a life peerage by the Labor Party, told the Sunday Times she had not completed a PhD at the University of Liverpool, despite this appearing on her since amended CV.
“To be completely candid and honest, I never completed my PhD at the University of Liverpool,” she told the newspaper, adding that she used the title Doctor because other institutions had awarded her honorary doctorates.
The BBC has contacted Dame Ann for comment. The King’s Foundation declined to comment.
Dame Ann was among the House of Lords nominees announced by Downing Street in early December, having held a number of senior public and private roles.
The King’s Foundation, which offers practical skills courses to young people, announced last week that it was leaving its role as president, which it has held since January, to become a peer.
An old version of her online CV, seen by the BBC, refers to her with the honorary title “Dr.” and lists a PhD from the University of Liverpool in 1978 among his qualifications.
The City & Guilds Foundation, which she also chairs, referred to her as Dr Ann Limb in 2020, and in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List which announced her damehood in 2022.
However, a new version of his CV, made in July 2024, omits the honorary doctorate and the alleged 1978 doctorate, stating that he received honorary doctorates from Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Northampton.
His website still says he began his teaching career in higher education “while undertaking a PhD at the University of Liverpool”.
She told the Sunday Times: “I have used the word ‘Doctor’… because I have several honorary doctorates and it has been made clear to me that they are honorary.
“Maybe my own website isn’t very useful, I don’t pay much attention to it, but if there’s something misleading… I’ll be happy to correct it.” [it]”.
The newspaper also reported that she claimed to have obtained a master’s degree from the Institute of Linguistics, which she also admitted was false.
Recipients of honorary doctorates tend not to use the title of honorary Dr. even though they technically can do so out of deference to those who have done the academic work to receive a doctorate.
When approached for comment, a No 10 spokesman directed the BBC to a document listing the reasons why Dame Ann had been nominated for a peerage.
This document indicates that she has been president or non-executive director of several public, private and charitable organizations.
Dame Ann grew up in Moss Side in Manchester and is currently chancellor of the University of Surrey and chair of institutions including Lloyds Bank Foundation.
She was made a dame for her services to young people and philanthropy, having spent much of her career in higher education.
