blog - Starting from scratch
mirrored from blogs.labour.org.uk/braindamage
tag usage
tag: class
tag: class
class: related links
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1200801/MELANIE-PHILLIPS-Charities-hijacked-turned-pawns-Labours-class-war.html:
'Charities are being hijacked and turned into pawns in Labour's class war'
An interesting take on the 'class war' being waged in modern Britain (editorial in the Daily Mail, of all things.)
'Charities are being hijacked and turned into pawns in Labour's class war'
An interesting take on the 'class war' being waged in modern Britain (editorial in the Daily Mail, of all things.)
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/centreright/2009/04/why-class-will-matter-at-the-next-general-election.html:
'Why class WILL matter at the next general election'
'The country isn't obsessed with this stuff as some left wingers wish it was [ *we're* obsessed with class are we? :)]. But there is a kind of class that matters a great deal in politics, and which will determine who wins the next general election.
This class is a binary phenomenon - a person either has it or they don't.'
.....
'Why class WILL matter at the next general election'
'The country isn't obsessed with this stuff as some left wingers wish it was [ *we're* obsessed with class are we? :)]. But there is a kind of class that matters a great deal in politics, and which will determine who wins the next general election.
This class is a binary phenomenon - a person either has it or they don't.'
.....
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/yasmin-alibhai-brown/yasmin-alibhaibrown-were-still-the-most-classridden-country-under-the-sun-1835529.html:
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: We're still the most class-ridden country under the sun
There is something about the chutzpah and aplomb of theTory boy
'A new You-Gov poll finds that a majority of voters (52 per cent against 31 per cent) still believe that David Cameron and his pride of glam and louche Tories favour the rich and are too distant from the commoners beneath them. Gordon Brown's attack on the toffs clearly chimed with many. He savaged eco supremo Zac Goldsmith, a Tory candidate who turns out to be a part-time British citizen - his other self is a non-dom somewhere where piles are kept safely away from grasping tax regimes. Goldsmith does pay taxes on his UK earnings; now he is ordered by his leader to relocate his inherited loot back here.
In modern Britain, class still matters and Cameron - who is keen on being seen as déclassé - knows how much and yet doesn't. When he talks, for example, about "broken Britain" and comes up with marriage enforcement plans, he clearly doesn't mean all those in his own party who run through more marriages than cars. His Big Idea in education, allowing parents to set up and run their own schools, will disproportionately advantage those of us who are middle class.'
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: We're still the most class-ridden country under the sun
There is something about the chutzpah and aplomb of theTory boy
'A new You-Gov poll finds that a majority of voters (52 per cent against 31 per cent) still believe that David Cameron and his pride of glam and louche Tories favour the rich and are too distant from the commoners beneath them. Gordon Brown's attack on the toffs clearly chimed with many. He savaged eco supremo Zac Goldsmith, a Tory candidate who turns out to be a part-time British citizen - his other self is a non-dom somewhere where piles are kept safely away from grasping tax regimes. Goldsmith does pay taxes on his UK earnings; now he is ordered by his leader to relocate his inherited loot back here.
In modern Britain, class still matters and Cameron - who is keen on being seen as déclassé - knows how much and yet doesn't. When he talks, for example, about "broken Britain" and comes up with marriage enforcement plans, he clearly doesn't mean all those in his own party who run through more marriages than cars. His Big Idea in education, allowing parents to set up and run their own schools, will disproportionately advantage those of us who are middle class.'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/08/class-war-cameron-background-privilege:
This is class war - carried out by Cameron against the poor
'Politicians' backgrounds are of no importance - unless, like the Tories, they are hell bent on defending their privilege'
This is class war - carried out by Cameron against the poor
'Politicians' backgrounds are of no importance - unless, like the Tories, they are hell bent on defending their privilege'
http://www.melaniephillips.com/articles-new/?p=700:
Melanie Phillip's not quite "Keep the aspidistra flying" article: "Britain's real class war"
Published in the Daily Mail, Dec 7th 2009
"It's Groundhog Day all over again in the Labour Party. Gordon Brown has decided that the battle-ground for the next General Election will be that perennial Left-wing hate-fest, class war."
what? nobody told me..
I am a Constituency Secretary for the Labour Party, but have received no letter from Downing Street stating:
"I have decided that the battle-ground for the next General Election will be our perennial hate-fest, class war.
Yours
Gordon Brown"
Where the hell does she get her info from?
Right, that's it, all out! I'm striking like the bolshie club-footed Mongoloid, THAT I AM.
"People pick up very quickly on the fact that the Tories are ashamed of their party. Voters can see the attempted makeover is wholly opportunistic."
Oi! Wait there! Back to work!
"They conclude therefore that Cameron stands for nothing and is merely a chameleon who will say anything to gain power. Why should they believe in the Conservative party when the Tories so patently - and painfully - don't believe in themselves?"
"It is this innate moral cowardice, rather than having been to Eton, which so repels people. That's why the image of Cameron cycling to work while his chauffeur-driven car followed behind with his briefcase has done such lasting and lethal damage."
(Vote blue, go green Vote blue, act green, followed by car.)
"Class war could play to the Tories' great advantage - but only if they can get over their decade-long nervous breakdown, stop apologising and come out fighting."
Hmm, although I didn't have the facts to agree with her initial statement, as I didn't receive notification from Gordon Brown that class war was to be perpetrated, I will however agree with the parts I have boldened above in her piece for the usually notoriously right-wing Daily Fail.
Mainly parts inducing my 'repellence'.
Melanie Phillip's not quite "Keep the aspidistra flying" article: "Britain's real class war"
Published in the Daily Mail, Dec 7th 2009
"It's Groundhog Day all over again in the Labour Party. Gordon Brown has decided that the battle-ground for the next General Election will be that perennial Left-wing hate-fest, class war."
what? nobody told me..
I am a Constituency Secretary for the Labour Party, but have received no letter from Downing Street stating:
"I have decided that the battle-ground for the next General Election will be our perennial hate-fest, class war.
Yours
Gordon Brown"
Where the hell does she get her info from?
Right, that's it, all out! I'm striking like the bolshie club-footed Mongoloid, THAT I AM.
"People pick up very quickly on the fact that the Tories are ashamed of their party. Voters can see the attempted makeover is wholly opportunistic."
Oi! Wait there! Back to work!
"They conclude therefore that Cameron stands for nothing and is merely a chameleon who will say anything to gain power. Why should they believe in the Conservative party when the Tories so patently - and painfully - don't believe in themselves?"
"It is this innate moral cowardice, rather than having been to Eton, which so repels people. That's why the image of Cameron cycling to work while his chauffeur-driven car followed behind with his briefcase has done such lasting and lethal damage."
(Vote blue, go green Vote blue, act green, followed by car.)
"Class war could play to the Tories' great advantage - but only if they can get over their decade-long nervous breakdown, stop apologising and come out fighting."
Hmm, although I didn't have the facts to agree with her initial statement, as I didn't receive notification from Gordon Brown that class war was to be perpetrated, I will however agree with the parts I have boldened above in her piece for the usually notoriously right-wing Daily Fail.
Mainly parts inducing my 'repellence'.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-are-a-party-for-the-rich-say-voters-1847268.html:
Tories are a party for the rich, say voters
'New poll shows Conservative lead slipping and finds they offer 'unappealing' alternative
By Andrew Grice, Political Editor
David Cameron has failed to seal the deal with the British public, who believe the Conservatives would govern for the well-off and are not an attractive alternative to Labour.
In a remarkable snapshot of national opinion just months ahead of the general election, a ComRes poll for The Independent found that people disagree with the statement that "the Conservative Party offers an appealing alternative to the Labour Party", by a margin of 49 to 45 per cent.'
Tories are a party for the rich, say voters
'New poll shows Conservative lead slipping and finds they offer 'unappealing' alternative
By Andrew Grice, Political Editor
David Cameron has failed to seal the deal with the British public, who believe the Conservatives would govern for the well-off and are not an attractive alternative to Labour.
In a remarkable snapshot of national opinion just months ahead of the general election, a ComRes poll for The Independent found that people disagree with the statement that "the Conservative Party offers an appealing alternative to the Labour Party", by a margin of 49 to 45 per cent.'
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/178978.php:
People Die 7 Years Earlier In England's Poorest Neighbourhoods
'According to a new government-commissioned report, people living in England's poorest neighbourhoods die on average seven years earlier than those living in the richest neighbourhoods and they also spend more of their shorter lives with disability leaving the better off with a total of 17 more years of disability-free life.'
People Die 7 Years Earlier In England's Poorest Neighbourhoods
'According to a new government-commissioned report, people living in England's poorest neighbourhoods die on average seven years earlier than those living in the richest neighbourhoods and they also spend more of their shorter lives with disability leaving the better off with a total of 17 more years of disability-free life.'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/21/tory-anger-cameron-candidates-stratford:
David Cameron gets his way, but the Tories' own version of class war is far from over
When the faithful turned out in Stratford-upon-Avon to choose between a local candidate and the choice of Conservative HQ, it became the latest battle in the struggle for the party's soul
'They walk in pairs, perhaps for company, more likely for mutual support. Up the winding path to the high school they snake, a gerontocracy in motion.
Everyone is wearing their best. Fresh perms are much in evidence and the local dry cleaners have been busy. Portly men decant themselves from Range Rovers and BMWs sporting "Fight the Ban" car stickers. If you were filming a television series and wanted a caricature of the Tory rank and file in the shires, this would be it.
Few people smile. Thin, pursed lips. Determined faces. This is not a social occasion - they are here to make their voices heard, even if it means decapitating their own party.
The redoubtable, ageing core of Stratford-upon-Avon's Conservative party association are here with a message for David Cameron: stuff your shortlists.
Many are in a quietly militant mood as they arrive to select their next prospective MP - in all probability a shoo-in for a Westminster berth at the next election.
Of the six names on the list, only one - a man - is local. The rest - four of whom are women - have been parachuted in by a Tory Central Office desperate to transform the party's fusty image.
The metamorphosis starts here in the shires and, on Friday night's evidence, there will, one day soon, be blood.'
David Cameron gets his way, but the Tories' own version of class war is far from over
When the faithful turned out in Stratford-upon-Avon to choose between a local candidate and the choice of Conservative HQ, it became the latest battle in the struggle for the party's soul
'They walk in pairs, perhaps for company, more likely for mutual support. Up the winding path to the high school they snake, a gerontocracy in motion.
Everyone is wearing their best. Fresh perms are much in evidence and the local dry cleaners have been busy. Portly men decant themselves from Range Rovers and BMWs sporting "Fight the Ban" car stickers. If you were filming a television series and wanted a caricature of the Tory rank and file in the shires, this would be it.
Few people smile. Thin, pursed lips. Determined faces. This is not a social occasion - they are here to make their voices heard, even if it means decapitating their own party.
The redoubtable, ageing core of Stratford-upon-Avon's Conservative party association are here with a message for David Cameron: stuff your shortlists.
Many are in a quietly militant mood as they arrive to select their next prospective MP - in all probability a shoo-in for a Westminster berth at the next election.
Of the six names on the list, only one - a man - is local. The rest - four of whom are women - have been parachuted in by a Tory Central Office desperate to transform the party's fusty image.
The metamorphosis starts here in the shires and, on Friday night's evidence, there will, one day soon, be blood.'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11837538:
Tory peer: Cuts make poor 'breed'
A new Conservative peer has been quoted as saying changes to the welfare system will encourage "breeding" among people on benefits.
Downing Street swiftly distanced itself from the comments, in a newspaper interview, by former MP Howard Flight.
Mr Flight was named by David Cameron last week as one of more than 20 new Conservative peers.
He was sacked as Tory candidate ahead of the 2005 election after suggesting the party had secret cuts plans.
A new Conservative peer has been quoted as saying changes to the welfare system will encourage "breeding" among people on benefits.
Downing Street swiftly distanced itself from the comments, in a newspaper interview, by former MP Howard Flight.
Mr Flight was named by David Cameron last week as one of more than 20 new Conservative peers.
He was sacked as Tory candidate ahead of the 2005 election after suggesting the party had secret cuts plans.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9027846/The-rise-of-the-overclass.html:
The rise of the overclass
By Peter Oborne
9:00PM GMT 20 Jan 2012
We've all heard of the 'underclass': now its mirror image - a super-rich elite that is equally cut off from the rest of us - is defining the political debate.
When Labour leader Ed Miliband used his conference speech last September to call for a fairer and more humane type of capitalism, he was greeted with widespread derision and mockery. But four months on, every leading politician in Britain is desperately trying to follow Miliband's lead. What constitutes a fair society is no longer just a matter for academic theorists. Suddenly it's the hottest subject in politics.
The reason is simple: growing public revulsion at a new class of super-rich who seem to be immune from the restraints that govern the lives of ordinary people. Senior bankers, private equity moguls and hedge fund managers appear cut off from the rest of us. They often pay little or no tax, increasingly live in heavily guarded enclaves, and some have little or no real allegiance to Britain. The sources of their wealth are often mysterious, and appear unrelated to merit. These feral rich pose, in their way, every bit as much of a danger to society as the rioters who stole and pillaged London streets last August.
Taxpayers spent £60 billion bailing out City bankers to save them from bankruptcy. Yet, rather than displaying contrition or gratitude, these bankers continue to pay themselves multi-million pound salaries, unimaginable sums of money to most of us.
The injustice is glaring - all the more so in a time of grinding national austerity, when living standards are falling and unemployment is rising...
The rise of the overclass
By Peter Oborne
9:00PM GMT 20 Jan 2012
We've all heard of the 'underclass': now its mirror image - a super-rich elite that is equally cut off from the rest of us - is defining the political debate.
When Labour leader Ed Miliband used his conference speech last September to call for a fairer and more humane type of capitalism, he was greeted with widespread derision and mockery. But four months on, every leading politician in Britain is desperately trying to follow Miliband's lead. What constitutes a fair society is no longer just a matter for academic theorists. Suddenly it's the hottest subject in politics.
The reason is simple: growing public revulsion at a new class of super-rich who seem to be immune from the restraints that govern the lives of ordinary people. Senior bankers, private equity moguls and hedge fund managers appear cut off from the rest of us. They often pay little or no tax, increasingly live in heavily guarded enclaves, and some have little or no real allegiance to Britain. The sources of their wealth are often mysterious, and appear unrelated to merit. These feral rich pose, in their way, every bit as much of a danger to society as the rioters who stole and pillaged London streets last August.
Taxpayers spent £60 billion bailing out City bankers to save them from bankruptcy. Yet, rather than displaying contrition or gratitude, these bankers continue to pay themselves multi-million pound salaries, unimaginable sums of money to most of us.
The injustice is glaring - all the more so in a time of grinding national austerity, when living standards are falling and unemployment is rising...
