R. H. Tawney was a major figure in shaping both the philosophy and the political practice of the British Labour Party. His involvement was also remarkably lengthy, and his influence lasting. The pursuit of equality, particularly through educational reform and restructuring, lay at the heart of his concerns. This paper analyses both Tawney's overall philosophy of education and its place in his politics, and his particular contributions to the development of the Labour Party's policy on the universities.