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Corbyn / BBC declare social class of employees?

(509 Posts)
POGS Thu 23-Aug-18 00:23:58

It is said Corbyn will today (Thursday) announce how Labour will reform the BBC. If this turns out to be false news then I apologise now.

It is being discussed in the media how one of his /Labours ideas is for the BBC to declare the ' Social Class ' of employees.

If this is even a thought I find that principal very alarming and if true I expect the Labour Party to lead by example and do the same for all employees including the Shadow Cabinet and all MP's.

How do you work out a persons Social Class? By Wealth, Education, Family background?

I would tell somebody requiring that of me to ' Go Forth'.

Anniebach Fri 24-Aug-18 20:04:08

I assume it was said by someone from the beeb , or perhaps someone in no 10 stirring things for this government !

Jalima1108 Fri 24-Aug-18 20:00:20

Yes, that would be interesting and quite surprising.

Anniebach Fri 24-Aug-18 19:59:41

Would you post the links please, especially the one which claims the present government made it clear etc , thank you

Jalima1108 Fri 24-Aug-18 19:58:33

So much for all those who think the Beeb is biased towards the left-wing then!

sluttygran Fri 24-Aug-18 19:49:49

Having done a little research, I have found that someone apparently looked at all the BBC senior staff and discovered that they were predominantly privately educated, and came from extremely advantaged backgrounds.
It was also noted that when the BBC’s charter was due for renewal, the present Govt made it clear that unless the BBC ‘played nicely’, the charter would not be reinstated - hence the present rather obvious right-wing bias shown in their current affairs programming.
On hearing about this, Jeremy Corbyn said that in order to achieve a better balance in the management of our national broadcasting service, it might be prudent to make sure that applicants from all walks of life had a fair chance of a job in this great (?) institution.
This differs vastly from the inference of the sort of rigid communistic control of which he stands accused.
I just thought I would set the record straight in the interests of fair play.
I have removed my ‘love goggles’ as advised, and find that I still see Corbyn as a sound and honest politician, although for my part I would prefer him to be a less moderate and a more left wing.

Ilovecheese Fri 24-Aug-18 19:18:28

No, class does not come into being or not being a good parent.

Anniebach Fri 24-Aug-18 18:59:16

So ‘class’ doesn’t come into it Ilovecheese?

Ilovecheese Fri 24-Aug-18 18:39:07

"Take off your love goggles when viewing him."
Some people on this forum seem to think that anyone who likes the policies of the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, only agree with the policies because they like Jeremy Corbyn, and that is just not the case.

Ilovecheese Fri 24-Aug-18 18:35:47

"better off" families are no more or less likely to be good parents then less well off parents. Sure Start was there to help all parents of young children.
I don't agree with the attitude of "nothing can be done so let us not bother even trying"

Jalima1108 Fri 24-Aug-18 18:14:03

I stand corrected M0nica!

A lot of privately rented property today is unfit for habitation.

However, nursery places are funded for 3 year olds (570 hours p.a., double that in some cases) and in some cases 2 year olds are eligible too.

One of my young relatives had said that she thought that SureStart was at one time in danger of being 'hi-jacked' by better off families who did not necessarily need the help, certainly in her area.

POGS Fri 24-Aug-18 18:07:28

I will try again .

What is behind the need to know / having to declare what Social Class you come from?

If for example David Attenborough came from a council estate or palace would that sway your opinion of the work he produces ?

If a philanthropist /humanitarian had to declare his/her Social Class would that make a difference as to accepting their money?

Would you want to know the Social Class of your surgeon before being operated on?

Is a good / bad Member of Parliament only decided because of his / her background. They can be seen as being a hypocrite if they espouse one thing and do the other but is the Social Class of our MP's in the future going to be a criteria. Ye Goods I hope not but Corbyn should lead by example and declare the Social Class of all Labour employees , Shadow Cabinet and MP's if it so important to know.

If you feel it is a good thing to have to declare your Social Status can you explain to me why , what would you do with the information, , what the likely outcome will be because even raising the prospect sends chills down my backbone.

janeainsworth Fri 24-Aug-18 17:31:32

annie I agree parental support is important, but I don’t agree that nothing can be done to change parents who through no fault of their own, are not very good at it.
These quotes are from the Wikipedia entry for Sure Start
In 2010, robust research conducted by NESS demonstrated significant effects of Sure Start Local programmes on eight of 21 outcomes: two positive outcomes for children (lower BMIs and better physical health), four positive outcomes for mothers and families (more stimulating and less chaotic home environments, less harsh discipline, and greater life-satisfaction)
But sadly,
However, in 2016 the British Medical Journal noted that the benefits of Sure Start to children and families were being eroded by austerity cuts and that, "disadvantaged families are at greatest risk from theseausterity cuts".

M0nica Fri 24-Aug-18 17:01:49

Not Rachmanism, he used to send the heavies in to turn tenants into the streets and/or break up the accommodation to make it unoccupiable.

I lived in the Paddington North constituency at the time and did a lot of canvassing in the areas most affected and heard horrific stories.

Yes, there are poor landlords and sub-standard illegal properties and overcrowding, but nothing like Rachmanism.

Anniebach Fri 24-Aug-18 17:01:43

It cannot be denied that some children will fail in school, fail to reach their full potential , because they do not have parental support. Nothing can be done to make these parents change

Jalima1108 Fri 24-Aug-18 16:51:00

However, I do think there is an element of Rachmanism appearing in this country which may be increasing and there is a great need for more and better social housing.

Jalima1108 Fri 24-Aug-18 16:49:01

Personally I see more Victorianism seeping in than at any time since the end of WW1

I really don't think that is true - I cannot speak from personal experience, of course, but only from anecdotal evidence from family members and from newsreels from the time.

lemongrove Fri 24-Aug-18 16:47:47

sluttygran........ tinkering with society is exactly the sort of petty socialism that Corbyn would love indulging in.
Take off your love goggles when viewing him.

Anniebach Fri 24-Aug-18 16:42:33

How does knowing the parentage of a person applying for a job help reduce use of food banks ?

M0nica Fri 24-Aug-18 16:40:26

The fact that it is blathering on about class.

trisher Fri 24-Aug-18 16:38:03

I suppose if you think it's progressive to have more homeless, more people using foodbanks and less social mobility then the Labour Party policies are antediluvian. Personally I see more Victorianism seeping in than at any time since the end of WW1 and if believing that society should function to support the less fortunate is dinosaur politics then I'd rather be a dinosaur.

sluttygran Fri 24-Aug-18 15:42:10

What makes you believe the Labour Party to be antediluvian or dinosaur? I have seen nothing to indicate either.

M0nica Fri 24-Aug-18 14:44:10

should be 'on them', penultimate line.

M0nica Fri 24-Aug-18 14:43:14

Marketing companies use Social demographics that divide people into one of 5 social groups from A - E. They have broad definitions about what occupations fall into each group, which is not the same as classifying by class.

But marketing companies are making these classifications to identify those consumers most likely to buy certain products or have certain views. They are not using them to make huge sweeping judgements about groups of individuals, what they do, what they say and then making pejorative judgements of them the way that that antediluvian dinosaur the Labour Party is.

Anniebach Fri 24-Aug-18 13:56:32

Supposed class system

Arictocracy

Upper class

Upper middle class

Middle class

Lower middle class

Working class

On the dole / benifits class

What rubbish

jenpax Fri 24-Aug-18 13:52:40

BBC left wing! I think we listen to/watch different programmes! Kitty. it’s definitely right wing biased and pro Brexit these days! ?