OpEd: Social mobility 16-06-15

The commentators 16-06-15

...on social mobility

In 2010, while Labour was looking inwards during its leadership contest, the Conservatives won the economic argument, setting in voters’ minds the idea that Ed Miliband’s party had spent too much. This time, the Tories could win the cultural argument, defining the terms of social mobility while Labour leadership candidates are still arguing about whether they favour equality or aspiration. It’s a huge opportunity. The only question is whether Mr Cameron will be able to overcome his own background to seize the chance.
- Rachel Sylvester, The Times

One of the most employable things about posh people is their ability – thanks to constantly being at the top of the pile – to not have to get tangled up in time-consuming battles to be heard or respected. Posh people tend not to fritter time on the internet – or in meetings, or in industrial tribunals – table-thumping about why they should be treated fairly, as they are already being treated bloody wonderfully, thank you.
- Grace Dent, The Independent

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Comment Awards 2015

Anyone can nominate their favourite writer

Friday 12 June, 2015 Are the comment pages and columnists too Londoncentric? And if they are, what is the solution when the financial and political powerhouses are based in the capital?
Does the character or personality of the writer matter? Should we read columnists with whom we violently disagree or is it, as Eleanor Mills suggested, good for the soul but bad for the blood pressure?
Why did the so-called political experts get it so wrong in calling the general election? And will they - and Rupert Murdoch - influence the result of the EU referendum?
All these points and more were addressed under the guidance of Dr Anthony Seldon at the launch of the 2015 Comment Awards last night. Seldon will chair the judging panel for the awards, now in their seventh year.
Nominations are now open and anyone can put forward anyone writing in the UK media - broadcasting, print or online - by submitting the URLS of three articles published between August 1, 2014 and July 31 this year, which is the closing date for entries.
The 17 awards include four new categories: Comment piece of the year for a single piece of excellent writing; Young commentariat; Society and diversity commentator; and Technology and digital commentator.
There is no charge for entries. Details and the nomination forms can be found here.
Oh yes, and who was the most frequently mentioned columnist at last night's event? Matthew Parris? Andrew Rawnsley? Stephen Glover? No. By a country mile, the most discussed writer was Katie Hopkins.

Comment archive, 2015

April 10 General election
April 9 General election
April 8 General election
April 7 General election

March 27 Prince Charles's letters
March 26 UK politics
March 25 Cameron's exit strategy
March 24 Lee Kwan Yew
March 23 UK politics

Jim Murphy, Scottish Labour party conference

March 13 UK politics
March 12 Jeremy Clarkson
March 11 UK politics
March 10 UK politics
March 9 UK politics

February 27 UK politics
February 26 Minor party leaders
February 25 Natalie Bennett
February 24 Rifkind and Straw
February 23 World affairs

February 13 UK politics
February 12 UK politics
February 11 UK politics
February 10 UK politics
February 9 Politics

January 30 Rape law
January 29 UK politics
January 28 UK politics
January 27 Greece
January 26 UK politics

January 16 World politics
January 15 Election debates
January 14 Charlie Hebdo
January 13 Charlie Hebdo
January 12 Charlie Hebdo

April 2 General election
April 1 General election
March 31 General election
March 30 Depression

March 20 UK politics
March 19 The Budget
March 18 UK politics
March 17 Race in Britain
March 16 UK politics

March 6 Scotland and the election
March 5 Isis
March 4 UK politics
March 3 Radicalisation
March 2 Russia

February 20 UK politics
February 19 Chelsea and racism
February 18 UK politics
February 17 UK politics
February 16 Copenhagen

February 6 UK politics
February 5 Isis atrocity
February 4 UK politics
February 3 UK politics
February 2 UK politics

January 23 UK politics
January 22 Chilcot inquiry
January 21 Page Three
January 20 Anti-semitism
January 19 Religion and freedom

January 9 Charlie Hebdo
January 8 Charlie Hebdo
January 7 UK politics
January 6 UK politics
January 5 UK politics

For EI daily digests from June to December 2014 please click here

It seems that class has become a murky principle around which to organise politically – currently dealt with by denial or the dead-eyed mantra of “aspiration” – it somehow still creeps back into the debate via this discussion of “poshness”. This all becomes a silly way to talk about bizarre codes of etiquette involving cummerbunds, sherry and the correct way to say “toilet”. The reality, of course, is that one is inducted into these codes economically.
- Suzanne Moore, The Guardian

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Editorial Intelligence