How perverse is it that the Commons in the 21st century has become less, not more, class representative. Only 7% of children attend private schools but nearly four out of 10 MPs are privately educated, up from 30% in 1997. That\’s inevitable with the Conservatives dominant, 54% of them from private schools, 40% of Lib Dem MPs and only 15% on Labour benches. Perhaps that does reflect Britain\’s growing inequality. Society is less mobile, with class at birth a more certain destiny than a generation ago.
My, hasn\’t the abolition of the grammars increased social mobility?
This line from the article is wonderful: “nothing beats the right’s loathing of posh women of the left.”
Who could she be thinking of?
I’ve never thought of Polly as a woman, exactly. As a manatee, yes.
Manatees are amiable, gentle and rather beautiful. Not like Polly at all!
Think of them as a sort of alternative Polly, then.
Have you got anything academic looking into the effect of grammar schools on social mobility?
I’d be pretty interesting reading something empirical on it.