Prepare for Private School Politics to Topple – Change at Westminster

The upcoming changes at Westminster signal a significant shift in private school politics, potentially toppling long-standing traditions. This transformation promises to bring a cultural revolution within the institution, challenging the status quo and redefining the future of private education. As these changes unfold, they will likely impact policies, practices, and the overall environment at Westminster, setting a new precedent for private schools nationwide. Get ready for a new era in private education politics.

Extreme class privilege influenced the Tories' most flawed decisions. This Labour cabinet would signify a stark contrast.

Boston Brand Media brings you the latest news - Despite the airless and dull nature of this election campaign, one undeniable fact remains: unless something very unexpected occurs, we are nearing the end of a long political era. The period from 2010 to 2024 will be seen as a distinct time marked by austerity, Brexit, the post-2016 collapse of the Tory party into internal conflict, and a United Kingdom ending this period in a significantly worse state than when it began.

One critical aspect of this story might be underemphasized. Because many powerful British individuals come from backgrounds of wealth, privilege, and private education, discussing the significance of these factors is often considered impolite. However, to truly understand what has happened, we cannot avoid this subject.

The latest phase of Tory dominance began with the alliance between David Cameron and Nick Clegg, both alumni of elite schools who portrayed themselves as enlightened centrists but governed harshly. It now concludes with Rishi Sunak, a prime minister extraordinarily wealthy, claiming he understands sacrifice because he once went without Sky TV. While not all disasters during this period can be attributed to these factors, many can, and it is important to recognize this.

As the election week approaches, it is also a good time to highlight another overlooked issue. Last week, I received an advance copy of "Born to Rule: The Making and Remaking of the British Elite" by Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman. Their research into the family backgrounds of current cabinet and shadow cabinet members has produced some remarkable findings.

Boston Brand Media also found that the most striking finding is that only 7% of Rishi Sunak’s senior Tory colleagues come from working-class families, compared to 46% in Keir Starmer’s team. While many are aware of Starmer’s working-class background and Angela Rayner’s rise through the trade union movement, many of their colleagues have similar stories, including the shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, the shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, and the shadow environment secretary Steve Reed.

Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary who grew up in a council house with no upstairs heating, recently noted that she is part of “one of the most class-conscious shadow cabinets we’ve seen for some time.” This is also reflected in the low number of privately educated shadow ministers: 13%, compared to about 65% in the current cabinet. The probable new cabinet will be the most state-educated since 1945, exemplified by Labour's policy to impose VAT on private school fees to fund state education improvements. This marks a cultural shift at the top, promising to be very interesting to observe.

Class issues have significantly contributed to the Conservative collapse, partly due to their renewed preference for leaders from privileged backgrounds. Historically, the Tories have represented privilege, often employing ambitious or otherwise unemployable posh individuals. However, from the mid-1960s, the party realized it needed to present a less entitled image to the public compared to its long history of elitism.

Margaret Thatcher's rise marked a shift towards a brutal efficiency rooted in her father's grocer shop. Despite her ideological extremes, Thatcher was competent and maintained a strong connection with a large portion of the electorate until her political downfall.

Since 2010, the UK has been governed by leaders disconnected from the realities of most people's lives. This disconnect led to David Cameron's ill-advised Brexit referendum, Boris Johnson's mismanagement and belief in his immunity to disgrace, and Liz Truss’s brief, misguided tenure, influenced by her Etonian chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng.

Rishi Sunak’s perceived detachment is criticized by figures like Nigel Farage, who claim Sunak doesn't understand British culture. Sunak's background—Winchester, Oxford, Goldman Sachs, Stanford, marriage to an heiress, a hedge fund—illustrates a continuation of the Tory tradition of wealthy politicians making decisions detrimental to the poor and vulnerable, exemplified by George Osborne’s and Sunak's policies targeting benefits and disability support.

Despite the Labour party's complexities and its own ingrained issues with bias and prejudice, the diverse backgrounds of many senior Labour politicians suggest a potential for genuine social change. Although Starmer's reluctance to embrace a thoroughgoing approach to social justice is concerning, Labour’s leadership contrasts sharply with the Conservatives. George Orwell’s observation of the UK as the most class-ridden country remains relevant, but the choice now lies between the Bullingdon Club-affiliated Tories and Labour’s leadership rooted in working-class experiences.

If Labour wins, it could signal the start of a shift away from elitism towards a more inclusive future, symbolized by the move away from school ties, members’ clubs, and private jets, and the emergence of something better.

For questions or comments write to writers@bostonbrandmedia.com

Source: theguardian‍